Teapot thumbnail 1
Teapot thumbnail 2
Image of Gallery in South Kensington
On display at V&A South Kensington
Silver, Room 67, The Whiteley Galleries

Teapot

1872-1873 (made), 1868 (designed)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

This teapot forms part of a full tea service. W & G Sissons were Sheffield based manufacturing silversmiths and platers with a retail outlet in London. The restrained classical style of the set would have appealed to consumers who appreciated the revival of interest in classical design in the 1870s. In 1881, Elkingtons advertised a similar electroplated tea and coffee service of four pieces (tea pot, coffee pot, milk jug and sugar bowl) in classical style for £25-4s-0d.


Object details

Categories
Object type
Materials and techniques
Silver, raised and engraved, with cast handle, spout and finial and protective ivory strips; hinged lid
Brief description
Silver, London hallmarks for 1872-73, mark of W.G. Sissons, Design Registry mark for 1868.
Physical description
Silver teapot, urn shaped with engraved decoration in a classical style, the handle beaded, the knop of the lid shaped as an urn.
Dimensions
  • Height: 24.0cm
  • Length: 22.3cm
  • Width: 13.0cm
Marks and inscriptions
  • Base: design registry mark showing that it had been registered as part of a tea & coffee service on January 2nd, 1868; Under rim of neck: “Mackay”, “Cumming May and Co.” and maker WS GS for W+G Sissons Ltd. Sterling, leopard’s head, date letter small gothic R (1872-3), duty; handle: maker, duty, sterling; lid: maker, sterling, date letter; finial: maker, duty, sterling; nut: sterling
  • Crest and Monogram
  • Crest of lion’s head above banner “SPERO”, beneath monogram “JLT” On the side of the body the crest and monogram of the actor J T Toole.
Gallery label
This teapot forms part of a full tea service. W & G Sissons were Sheffield based manufacturing silversmiths and platers with a retail outlet in London. The restrained classical style of the set would have appealed to consumers who appreciated the revival of interest in classical design in the 1870s. In 1881, Elkingtons advertised a similar electroplated tea and coffee service of four pieces (tea pot, coffee pot, milk jug and sugar bowl) in classical style for £25-4s-0d.(2000)
Object history
Purchase - £112. 10. 0 (for Circ. 97-100); From Holmes Jewellers Ltd., 29 Old Bond Street
From a teaset. Henry Irving and J.L. Toole were important English actor-managers with their own companies. In spite of professional rivalries, they were close friends. W&G Sissons were Sheffield based manufacturing silversmiths and platers with a retail outlet in London. The restrained classical style of the set would have appealed to consumers who appreciated the revival of interest in classical design in the 1870s. In 1881, Elkingtons advertised a similar electroplated tea and coffee service of four pieces ( tea pot, coffee pot, milk jug and sugar bowl ) in the classical style for £ 25-4s-0d .
Summary
This teapot forms part of a full tea service. W & G Sissons were Sheffield based manufacturing silversmiths and platers with a retail outlet in London. The restrained classical style of the set would have appealed to consumers who appreciated the revival of interest in classical design in the 1870s. In 1881, Elkingtons advertised a similar electroplated tea and coffee service of four pieces (tea pot, coffee pot, milk jug and sugar bowl) in classical style for £25-4s-0d.
Associated objects
Collection
Accession number
CIRC.97-1961

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Record createdMarch 3, 2004
Record URL
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