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The Higgins House

Victorian Villa

 

18th Century Elegance

 

The 18th century emphasis on elegant dining was perhaps most obvious in the fashion for elaborate dessert services. This began in Europe and spread to wealthy British households by 1750.

 

Dining tables were laid out with porcelain dishes and glass stands used to display jellies, fruits and ices. Figures made from sugar paste were used as decorations and porcelain manufacturers soon began to make their own versions. The writer Horace Walpole noted in 1753: ‘Jellies, biscuits, sugar plumbs, and creams have long since given way to harlequins, gondoliers, Turks, Chinese and shepherdesses of Saxon China.’

 

1

PAIR OF FIGURES

1755-1760

The earliest porcelain figures were made for the dessert courses of grand dinners. They replaced sugar paste figures which had been

made since medieval times. Figures of men and women in Turkish dress were popular because they brought a touch of the exotic

to the home.

Porcelain

Made at the Bow porcelain factory

Cecil Higgins Art Gallery No. C.173 & C.174

 

2

TUREEN IN THE SHAPE OF AN APPLE

1752-1756

Tureens shaped like animals and vegetables were used in dessert courses for serving stewed fruit, creams and ice creams. They

might have originally been designed to stand on leaf-shaped dishes to protect the tablecloth underneath.

Porcelain

Made at the Chelsea porcelain factory

Cecil Higgins Art Gallery No. C.291

 

3

TUREEN IN THE SHAPE OF A PARTRIDGE

1752-1756

Porcelain

Made at the Chelsea porcelain factory

Cecil Higgins Art Gallery No. C.292

 

4

TUREEN IN THE SHAPE OF A PIGEON

1752-1756

Porcelain

Made at the Chelsea porcelain factory

Cecil Higgins Art Gallery No. C.300

 

5

TUREEN IN THE SHAPE OF A CAULIFLOWER

1752-1756

Porcelain

Made at the Chelsea porcelain factory

Cecil Higgins Art Gallery No. C.303

 

6

DESSERT PLATES AND TUREENS

1755-1760

Porcelain

Made at the Chelsea porcelain factory

Cecil Higgins Art Gallery No. C.312 & C.313, C.322-325

 

7

STAND FOR SWEETMEATS

About 1760

This stand would have been used as the centrepiece of a grand dessert service. The term ‘sweetmeat’ was used for several different types of sweet delicacies, including cakes and pastries, sweets, and nuts and fruit preserved in sugar.

Porcelain

Made at the Derby porcelain factory

Cecil Higgins Art Gallery No. C.372

 

8

WINE GLASSES

Mid 19th century

Glass

Cecil Higgins Art Gallery No. G.97 & G.98

 

9

CANDLESTICKS

1747

Silver

Cecil Higgins Art Gallery No. M.22 & M.23

 

10

KNIVES AND FORKS

Late 18th century

Silver gilt and porcelain

Cecil Higgins Art Gallery No. M.204-205 & M.208-209

 

 

Tureens

 

For about 10 years from 1750, tureens (serving dishes) shaped like animals and vegetables were a popular part of dessert services used for grand dinners. Part of their appeal lay in the surprise of removing the lid to reveal sweet dishes like stewed fruit or ice cream inside.

Tureens like these were first made in Germany or France before the trend was taken up by porcelain manufacturers in England. The fashion only lasted about ten years but during this time manufacturers tried to outdo each other, making them as elaborate and realistic as possible.

 

1

TUREEN IN THE SHAPE OF A SWAN

1752-1756

Porcelain with a gilt metal band

Made at the Chelsea porcelain factory

Cecil Higgins Art Gallery No. C.296

 

2

PAIR OF TUREENS IN THE SHAPE OF PIGEONS

1752-1756

Porcelain

Made at the Chelsea porcelain factory

Cecil Higgins Art Gallery No. C.298 & C.299

 

3

PAIR OF TUREENS IN THE SHAPE OF DRAKES

1752-1756

Porcelain

Made at the Chelsea porcelain factory

Cecil Higgins Art Gallery No. C.304 & C.305

 

Small is Beautiful

 

1

SNUFF BOX

About 1760

Snuff is a scented tobacco-based powder which was popular with men and women in the 18th century. A pinch would be taken between thumb and forefinger and then inhaled through the nose.

Germany

Porcelain and silver gilt

Made at the Meissen porcelain factory

Cecil Higgins Art Gallery No. C.920

 

2

NÉCESSAIRE

About 1800

Nécessaires held all the ‘necessary’ equipment that a lady might need. This one includes items that are familiar today, such as tweezers and bottles for various beauty potions, as well as less familiar objects, including a spoon for removing earwax.

The Netherlands

Ormolu (gilded brass or bronze) and garnet

Cecil Higgins Art Gallery No. M.188

 

3

BONBONNIÈRE

About 1760

The Chelsea porcelain factory made bonbonnières in several different designs, including male and female heads. The insides of their bonbonnières were usually painted with sprays of flowers.

Porcelain and silver gilt

Made at the Chelsea porcelain factory

Cecil Higgins Art Gallery No. C.330

 

4

BONBONNIÈRE IN THE SHAPE OF A KNEELING CAMEL

About 1760

Porcelain

Made at the Chelsea porcelain factory

Cecil Higgins Art Gallery No. C.335

 

5

CHATELAINE

Mid 18th century

Chatelaines are decorative clasps which ladies and their housekeepers would wear hung from their waists. They had clips and chains for useful objects, like keys and scissors. This example also has two vinaigrettes, which would have held small sponges soaked in a scent. These could be sniffed to disguise unpleasant smells and ward off faintness.

Pinchbeck (an alloy of copper and zinc mixed to resemble gold)

Cecil Higgins Art Gallery No. M.142

 

6

SCENT BOTTLE

About 1760

This scent bottle is shaped like a tulip with a butterfly on the stopper. It is exactly the kind of object that would have been kept on a wealthy lady’s dressing table to keep her expensive perfume safe.

Porcelain

Made at the Chelsea porcelain factory

Cecil Higgins Art Gallery No. C.332

 

7

PATCH BOX

About 1765

Small boxes like this were designed to hold beauty patches. These were small dark patches that a lady would put on her face to emphasise her pale skin. The patches varied in shape from simple spots, stars and crescents to more intricate designs like animals and insects.

Porcelain

Made at the Chelsea porcelain factory

Cecil Higgins Art Gallery No. C.355

 

8

PATCH BOX

About 1765

Small decorative objects, or ‘trifles’, like this patch box were popular gifts. They might be given to a lady by an admirer as a token of their affection. Enamel boxes like this, which was made in the West Midlands, imitated more expensive porcelain boxes.

Copper and enamel

Possibly made at the Bilston enamel factory

Cecil Higgins Art Gallery No. A.3

 

9

SCENT BOTTLE IN THE SHAPE OF A DOVECOT

About 1760

Porcelain

Made at the Chelsea porcelain factory

Cecil Higgins Art Gallery No. C.333

 

10

BODKIN CASE

About 1760

A bodkin case was a decorative container in which a lady could keep a needle and sewing accessories.

Porcelain and ormolu

Made at the Chelsea porcelain factory

Cecil Higgins Art Gallery No. C.334

 

11

BONBONNIÈRE

About 1760

In the 18th century regular trips to the dental hygienist weren’t an option. To mask the smell of bad breath, ladies would carry around tiny lozenges flavoured with roses, violets, liquorice, mint or cloves. They kept them in decorative containers called bonbonnières, from the French bonbon (meaning sweets).

Silver gilt and enamel

Possibly made at the Battersea or Bilston

enamel factories

Cecil Higgins Art Gallery No. A.15

 

In Memory of a Loved One

 

12

BROOCH

19th century

Bog oak, a type of fossilised wood from peat bogs, was a popular material for making mourning jewellery. Like jet it has a very dark colour, although it has a matt rather than a shiny finish.

Bog oak

Cecil Higgins Art Gallery No. A.131

 

13

NECKLACE

About 1870

Jet mourning jewellery was made popular by Queen Victoria, who wore it after the death of Prince Albert. Jet is the fossilised remains of trees that grew over 135 million years ago. A big industry in jet mining and carving grew up around the North Yorkshire town of Whitby in the 19th century.

Whitby jet

Cecil Higgins Art Gallery No. A.115

 

14

BUTTONS

About 1920

Onyx with crystal stones

Made by Boucheron, Paris

Cecil Higgins Art Gallery No. A.108

 

15

PENDANT IN THE SHAPE OF A CROSS

1860-1869

The design of a piece of mourning jewellery was just as important as the materials that were used. This cross is formed from thorn branches entwined with holly. To the deeply religious Victorians, these were Christian symbols that represented the suffering of Jesus Christ.

Ivory

Hull Grundy Collection

Cecil Higgins Art Gallery No. A.129

 

16

BROOCH

About 1850

Oak leaves stood for strength or enduring love, while an empty acorn cup stood for the inevitable end of love.

Ivory

Hull Grundy Collection

Cecil Higgins Art Gallery No. A.128

 

17

BROOCH

About 1850

Bog oak

Hull Grundy Collection

Cecil Higgins Art Gallery No. A.187

 

18

BROOCH

About 1870

Jet

Hull Grundy Collection

Cecil Higgins Art Gallery No. A.143

 

19

BROOCH

1850-1885

Jet

Cecil Higgins Art Gallery No. A.136

 

20

BROOCHES

About 1830

Enamel, gold, silver and brilliants

Hull Grundy Collection

Cecil Higgins Art Gallery No. A.96a-b

 

21

LOCKET

Mid 19th century

Mourning jewellery often featured flower designs. The forget-me-not was one of the most commonly used flowers.

Gold and opal

Object No. BMT(c).985

 

22

BROOCH

19th century

A popular design for jet mourning jewellery was a hand holding a spray of flowers.

It isn’t clear why the hand making up this brooch is empty.

Jet

Hull Grundy Collection

Cecil Higgins Art Gallery No. A.160

 

23

BROOCH

About 1840

Just as there were rules about what kind of clothes could be worn at different stages of mourning, the type of jewellery that could be worn also changed. Jewellery made with diamonds or seed pearls, representing tears, set in black enamel was thought to be appropriate for ‘first’ mourning.

Gold, enamel and seed pearls

Hull Grundy Collection

Cecil Higgins Art Gallery No. A.95

 

24

EARRINGS

1870-1875

Jet with silver wire

Cecil Higgins Art Gallery No. A.116a&b

 

25

BRACELET

1860-1875

Hair was to make mourning brooches. It was also woven together to make bracelets and rings.

Hair and gold

Hull Grundy Collection

Cecil Higgins Art Gallery No. A.142

 

26

BROOCH AND RING

About 1843 (brooch), about 1830 (ring)

This memorial brooch and ring commemorate Mary Ann Higgins, who died in 1829 aged 14. Mary was the sister of Cecil Higgins’ father.

Enamel, gilt, glass and plaited hair (brooch)

Gold and enamel (ring)

Cecil Higgins Art Gallery No. A.199 & A.200

 

27

RING

19th century

Gold and hair

Object No. BEDFM 1966.106

 

28

RING

About 1770

Mourning and memorial jewellery wasn’t invented by the Victorians. Although it became more widely worn in the 19th century, there are plenty of examples from earlier periods. This ring commemorates Ellery Sydenham, who died in May 1770 aged just 10.

Gold, hair and diamonds

Cecil Higgins Art Gallery No. M.345

 

29

BROOCH

1800-1830

Mourning jewellery made with pieces of hair from the departed was quite literally a way of keeping a loved one near. Brooches like this, where a lock of hair is woven into a knot design, were thought to be suitable for the period of ‘half’ mourning.

Glass, silver and hair

Hull Grundy Collection

Cecil Higgins Art Gallery No. A.117

 

All in Good Taste

 

Porcelain figures were first made in Europe at the Meissen factory in Germany from the 1730s, where many were based on popular engravings of the time. They were originally made as table ornaments for the dessert courses of grand aristocratic dinners. From the mid 18th century they began to be displayed on mantelpieces, wall brackets and in cabinets to ‘make a room look neat and furnished’.

 

Other continental and English porcelain factories made their own figures, imitating or copying Meissen originals. In England these decorative objects were aimed at the fashionable middle classes, while more affordable pottery figures were also available.

 

Figure Sets

 

Sets of figures based on themes such as the five senses, the four seasons and the continents were popular with both continental and English porcelain factories and consumers, while pottery versions were also made. Allegorical and mythological figures were also popular subjects.

 

1

FIGURE OF DIANA

About 1765

Porcelain

Made at the Derby porcelain factory

 

2

GROUP OF LEDA AND THE SWAN

About 1765

Porcelain

Made at the Derby porcelain factory

 

3

FIGURE OF NEPTUNE

About 1770

Porcelain

Made at the Derby porcelain factory

 

4

THE FOUR CONTINENTS

About 1760

Porcelain

Made at the Derby porcelain factory

 

5

THE FOUR SEASONS

Late 18th Century

Earthenware

Made in Staffordshire

 

 

Men and Women

 

The Meissen porcelain factory in Germany made porcelain figures representing men and women in idealised forms. Other continental and English porcelain factories produced their own versions, often copied from Meissen originals. The figures included musicians, ladies and gallants, dancers, gardeners, figures in Turkish dress and Chinese figures.

 

There were original English versions, such as Bow’s figures of popular actors and actresses from the time, which were probably designed to be displayed on wall brackets. Staffordshire potters also made more affordable pottery versions of figures.

 

6

FIGURES OF MUSICIANS

About 1750

Porcelain

Made at the Meissen porcelain factory, Germany

 

7

GROUP OF A LADY AND GALLANT

About 1740

Porcelain

Made at the Meissen porcelain factory, Germany

 

8

GROUP OF A LADY AND A GALLANT

1755-1760

Porcelain

Made at the Bow porcelain factory

 

9

FIGURES OF DANCERS

About 1765

Porcelain

Made at the Bow porcelain factory

 

10

FIGURE OF AN ACTOR

About 1750

This figure is thought to represent the actor Henry Woodward (1714-1777) playing ‘The Fine Gentleman’ in Lethe by David Garrick (1717-1779).

Porcelain

Made at the Bow porcelain factory

 

11

FIGURE OF AN ACTRESS

About 1750

This figure is thought to represent the actress Kitty Clive (1711-1785) playing ‘The Fine Lady’ in Lethe by David Garrick (1717-1779).

Porcelain

Made at the Bow porcelain Factory

 

34

FIGURES OF GARDENERS

About 1770

Porcelain

Made at the Plymouth porcelain factory

 

35

FIGURES OF GARDENERS

About 1770

Porcelain

Made at the Fulda pottery and porcelain factory, Germany

 

36

FIGURES OF GARDENERS

About 1760

Earthenware

Made by Ralph Wood (1715-1772)

 

37

FIGURE OF A TURK

About 1750

Earthenware

Made in Staffordshire

 

38

FIGURE OF A TURK

About 1744

Porcelain

Made at the Meissen porcelain factory, Germany

 

39

FIGURE OF A TURK

About 1760

Porcelain

Made at the Derby porcelain factory

 

40

FIGURE OF A CHINAMAN

1752-1756

Porcelain

Made at the Chelsea Porcelain Factory

 

41

FIGURE OF A CHINAMAN

1735

Porcelain

Made at the Meissen porcelain factory, Germany

 

42

FIGURE OF A CHINAMAN

1752-1756

Porcelain

Made at the Chelsea porcelain factory

 

 

Commedia dell’Arte

 

The Commedia dell’Arte was a form of improvised street theatre which developed in Italy in the 16th century and spread throughout Europe. In the 1730s and ‘40s Meissen produced a great variety of figures based on the easily recognisable characters. The idea was taken up by other continental and English porcelain factories, with figures available individually or as part of sets.

 

12

FIGURE OF BRIGATELLEN

About 1750

Porcelain

Made at the Höchst porcelain factory, Germany

 

13

FIGURE OF SCARAMOUCH

About 1745

Porcelain

Made at the Höchst porcelain factory, Germany

 

14

FIGURE OF PIERROT

About 1760

Porcelain

Made at the Kelsterbach porcelain factory, Germany

 

15

FIGURE OF PIERROT

About 1755

Porcelain

Made at the Chelsea porcelain factory

 

16

FIGURE OF HARLEQUIN

About 1745

Porcelain

Made at the Meissen porcelain factory, Germany

 

17

GROUP OF HARLEQUIN FAMILY

About 1740

Porcelain

Made at the Meissen porcelain factory, Germany

 

18

FIGURE OF HARLEQUIN

About 1755

Porcelain

Made at the Bow porcelain factory

 

19

FIGURE OF COLUMBINE

About 1765

Porcelain

Made at the Kloster-Veilsdorf porcelain factory, Germany

 

20

FIGURE OF HARLEQUIN

About 1765

Porcelain

Made at the Kloster-Veilsdorf porcelain factory, Germany

 

Animals

 

The trend for porcelain animals began in Germany at the Meissen factory. The chief modeller, Johann Jachim Kändler (1707-1774), had access to a royal menagerie where the extensive aviaries allowed him to model all sorts of different birds. The idea of animal figures was taken up by porcelain factories in England and more affordable earthenware versions were also made.

 

21

FIGURE OF A PARROT

1749-1752

Porcelain

Made at the Chelsea porcelain factory

 

22

PAIR OF WAXWINGS

About 1739

Porcelain

Made at the Meissen porcelain factory, Germany

 

23

FIGURE OF A PHEASANT

1749-1752

Porcelain

Made at the Chelsea porcelain factory

 

24

PAIR OF JAYS

About 1739

Porcelain

Made at the Meissen Porcelain Factory, Germany

 

25

FIGURE OF A RAM

1752-1756

Porcelain

Made at the Chelsea porcelain factory

 

26

FIGURE OF A RAM

1760

Earthenware

Made by Ralph Wood (1715-1772)

 

27

FIGURE OF A PUG DOG

1755-1760

Porcelain

Made at the Derby porcelain factory

 

28

FIGURE OF A PUG DOG

Mid 18th century

Porcelain

Made at the Höchst porcelain factory, Germany

 

Street Traders

 

The Meissen porcelain factory made series of small figures representing street traders, based on contemporary engravings which depicted ordinary working people. The idea spread to other continental porcelain factories while in England similar figures were made at Chelsea where they were often copied from Meissen originals.

 

29

FIGURE OF A PRINT SELLER

1760s

Porcelain

Made at the Ludwigsburg porcelain factory, Germany

 

30

FIGURE OF A GOOSE SELLER

About 1760

Porcelain

Made at the Furstenberg porcelain factory, Germany

 

31

FIGURE OF A DRUNKEN FISHERMAN

About 1755

Porcelain

Made at the Meissen porcelain factory, Germany

 

32

FIGURE OF A BROOM SELLER

1760-1765

Porcelain

Made at the Capodimonte porcelain factory, Italy

 

33

FIGURE OF A MAP SELLER

About 1755

Porcelain

Made at the Chelsea porcelain factory

 

Taking tea

 

In the 18th century tea was expensive and reflected the status of those who drank it, as did the elegance and richness of the equipment needed to serve it. Tea fuelled the fashion for visiting, where women in polite society would call on each other and take tea together. The desire to impress others with expensive and beautiful tea sets led to great demand for imports of fine china from overseas and the gradual introduction of English alternatives. As tea became more affordable, cheaper versions were produced, allowing every household to own a teapot.

 

Canisters and Caddies

 

The high price of tea was reflected in the containers in which it was stored. Early canisters were small in size and kept in locked chests. As tea was made by the lady of the house in front of her guests, rather than in the kitchen by servants, they were often highly decorative.

 

14

TEA CANISTER

About 1750

Earthenware

Made in Bristol

 

15

TEA CANISTER

About 1765

Porcelain

Made at the Worcester porcelain factory

 

19

TEA CADDY

1787

Engraved with the crest of the Rev. George Calvert (1787-1865). Rev. Calvert left several items to his niece Caroline, Cecil Higgins’ mother.

Silver

Made by Andrew Fogelberg (1727-1815) and Stephen Gilbert, London

 

20

TEA CADDY

About 1790

Tortoiseshell, silver and ivory

 

27

TEA CADDY

About 1790

Satinwood and paper

 

28

TEA CANISTER

About 1790

Earthenware

Made in Leeds

 

45

TEA CADDY

About 1790

Satinwood, glass and paper

 

48

TEA CHEST

Late 18th Century

Wood with silk lining

 

Armorial China

 

Before British potters were able to match the quality of Chinese porcelain, the finest tea-drinking equipment was imported from China along with the tea itself. Wealthy families could have their porcelain personalised by sending drawings of their coats of arms to China to be hand-painted onto tea and dining services.

 

24

CUP AND SAUCER

About 1723

Likely to have been made for the marriage of Peter

Burrell, a former sub-governor of the South Sea Company, to Amy Raymond, daughter of Hugh Raymond, a captain with the the East India Company, in 1723.

China

Porcelain

 

25

TEAPOT AND STAND

1750-1770

The family motto painted onto this teapot is misspelt, probably because of a mistake in translation when the family’s coat of arms was sent to China. It should read ‘Loyal Au Mort’ (Loyal until Death) but instead reads ‘Loyal Au Moat’.

China

Porcelain

 

Teacups

 

Early teacups were influenced by Chinese tea bowls with no handles. By the 1740s manufacturers were making teacups with handles, with both types remaining in use until the more practical handled teacup became the norm.

 

2

CUP AND SAUCER

1715-1720

Porcelain

Made at the Meissen porcelain factory, Germany

 

3

CUP AND SAUCER

1725-1730

Porcelain

Made at the Meissen porcelain factory, Germany

 

4

CUP AND SAUCER

About 1765

Porcelain

Made at the Chelsea porcelain factory

 

5

CUP AND SAUCER

1749-1752

Porcelain

Made at the Chelsea porcelain factory

 

7

CUP AND SAUCER

About 1760

Porcelain

Made at the Worcester porcelain factory

 

8

CUP AND SAUCER

About 1760

Porcelain

Made at the Worcester porcelain factory

 

9

CUP AND SAUCER

About 1755

Porcelain

Made at the Worcester porcelain factory

 

10

CUP AND SAUCER

About 1760

Porcelain

Made in Liverpool

 

11

CUP AND SAUCER

About 1765

Porcelain

Made in Liverpool

 

12

CUP AND SAUCER

About 1770

Porcelain

Made at the Worcester porcelain factory

 

13

CUP AND SAUCER

About 1765

Porcelain

Made at the Bow porcelain factory

 

16

CUP AND SAUCER

About 1770

Porcelain

Made at the Worcester porcelain factory

 

17

CUP AND SAUCER

About 1765

Porcelain

Made at the Worcester porcelain factory

 

18

CUP AND SAUCER

About 1770

Porcelain

Made at the Lowestoft porcelain factory

 

22

CUP AND SAUCER

About 1765

Porcelain

Made at the Worcester porcelain factory

 

23

CUP AND SAUCER

About 1770

Porcelain

Made at the Worcester porcelain factory

 

26

CUP AND SAUCER

About 1770

Porcelain

Made at the Cozzi pottery factory, Italy

 

30

CUP AND SAUCER

About 1775

Porcelain

Made at the Worcester porcelain factory

 

31

CUP AND SAUCER

About 1775

Porcelain

Made at The Hague porcelain factory, The Netherlands

 

32

CUP AND SAUCER

About 1780

Porcelain

Made at Le Nove porcelain factory, Italy

 

33

CUP AND SAUCER

About 1765

Porcelain

Made at the Worcester porcelain factory

 

40

CUP AND SAUCER

About 1815

Porcelain

Made at Josiah Wedgwood’s factory, Etruria, Staffordshire

 

41

CUP AND SAUCER

1825-1840

Porcelain

Made at the Coalport porcelain factory

 

44

CUP AND SAUCER

About 1815

Porcelain

Made at Josiah Wedgwood’s factory, Etruria, Staffordshire

 

Continental Teapots

 

Germany was the first European country to discover the secrets of porcelain, with the Meissen factory making products from around 1710. Their early tea wares were made by moulding or casting from Chinese originals. As they developed their techniques, their teapots became more ornate and were copied throughout Europe.

 

21

TEAPOT

Before 1725

Porcelain

Made at the Meissen porcelain factory, Germany

 

29

TEAPOT

1725-1730

Porcelain

Made at the Meissen porcelain factory, Germany

 

34

TEAPOT

1716-1727

Porcelain

Made at the Meissen porcelain factory, Germany

 

35

TEAPOT

About 1735

Porcelain

Made at the Meissen porcelain factory, Germany

 

46

TEAPOT

1725-1730

Porcelain

Made at the Meissen porcelain factory, Germany

 

49

TEAPOT

1710-1713

Opened in 1710, Meissen initially made red stoneware with similar properties to porcelain, before they discovered the secret of how to make true white porcelain. Their early shapes were made by moulding or casting from Chinese wares and featured either no decoration or simple reliefs of sprays of plum blossom as in this example.

Stoneware

Made at the Meissen porcelain factory, Germany

 

English Teapots

 

Early English porcelain teapots were not as sturdy as their continental counterparts. They had to be slowly warmed up before use as otherwise they might crack. It wasn’t until the 1750s that the Worcester porcelain factory made a body strong enough to cope with the thermal shock of boiling water. Early teapots were small because tea was expensive. As prices fell, teapots became larger. Potteries also began to make decorative earthenware teapots, which were available in most towns and cost the equivalent of one or two days’ wages for the ordinary person.

 

1
TEAPOT AND STAND

About 1775

Porcelain

Made at the Worcester porcelain factory

 

6

TEAPOT AND STAND

1770-1775

Porcelain

Made at the Worcester porcelain factory

 

36

TEAPOT

About 1760

Porcelain

Made at the Worcester porcelain factory

 

37

TEAPOT

1765-1770

Porcelain

Made at the Worcester porcelain factory

 

38

TEAPOT

About 1740

Earthenware

Made by John Astbury (1686-1783), Staffordshire

 

39

TEAPOT

About 1740

Saltglaze stoneware

Probably made by William Littler (1724-1784), Staffordshire

 

42

TEAPOT

About 1765

Porcelain

Made in Liverpool

 

43

TEAPOT

About 1765

Porcelain

Made at the Worcester porcelain factory

 

47

TEAPOT

About 1765

Porcelain

Made in Liverpool