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Blue lined ‘Castleford-type’ teapot: C.1277 & A-1928

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Object information

Current Location: In storage

Titles

Blue lined ‘Castleford-type’ teapot

Maker(s)

Unidentified factory
Production: Chetham & Woolley (Perhaps)

Entities

Categories

Description

White felspathic stoneware teapot and drop-in cover, with moulded body and applied reliefs, with painted edging in blue enamel.

Castleford-type teapot with octagonal ovoid body, a short oval galleried neck, a curved spout and an angular loop handle with projecting spurs. White felspathic stoneware, smear glazed on the outside, and painted in blue enamel. There are three flat panels on each side of the body, separated by a thin arched line. The side panels each contain a stylised flower enclosed in a diamond . On one side the central panel shows six peasants wearing caps, gathered around a barrel; one is seated with a book, another plays bag-pipes. On the other side are four semi-clothed figures, with horse and tree. Around the lower part of the body is a strip of arches, each containing an upward pointing leaf. The shoulder is decorated with a stylised garland and a leaf strip runs along the handle. The cover has a radiating impression surrounding a flower shaped finial and a single vent hole. A narrow blue line marks the edges of the panels, handle and spout and an oval shape beneath the finial and there are blue touches on the finial flower. The interior is lightly glazed, with a domed strainer at base of the spout. The underside is slightly recessed, giving a narrow foot-rim.

Notes

History note: Bought on 18 October 1917 from Mrs Brooks' antique shop, Christchurch Road, Boscombe, for 15/- (fifteen shillings) by Dr J.W.L. Glaisher, FRS, Trinity College, Cambridge.

Legal notes

Dr J.W.L.Glaisher Bequest

Measurements and weight

Height: 145 cm
Length: 260 cm

Place(s) associated

  • Longton

Acquisition and important dates

Method of acquisition: Bequeathed (1928-12-07) by Glaisher, J. W. L., Dr

Dating

George III
1790 CE - 1820 CE

Note

On purchasing this teapot, Dr Glaisher noted he considered it ' an excellent specimen of the ware, which is to me very attractive from its material and texture and which will, I believe be collected in the future'.

The peasant scene, probably taken from a contemporary print, is also to be found on C.1275 & A-1928. These two teapots may thus come from the same maker; they also have similarly modelled finials of a design which could perhaps link them to Chetham & Woolley. However, variations between different factories were often slight and popular sprig moulds were sometimes copied. The other scene perhaps depicts Silenus, the Greek god of the dance of the wine-press, who followed Dionysus on the back of an ass.

‘Castleford-type’ teawares are named for The Castleford Pottery in Yorkshire, run by David Dunderdale & Co. from 1790 to 1821, which was renowned for its white felspathic stoneware. However, other factories such as Sowter & Co of Mexborough, South Yorkshire and Chetham & Woolley of Longton, Staffordshire made similar products and there are many unmarked examples. Examples are typically plain white or white with edges lined in blue or another colour, or black basalt. The smear-glazing makes the most of the crisply-moulded ornament, whilst the stoneware would be durable in an everyday setting. The teapots are moulded in two parts, with applied handle and sprig decoration, and may have a drop-in, sliding or hinged cover. There are four examples in the Fitzwilliam Collection, of which two have sliding lids and two have added blue lining.

People, subjects and objects depicted

Components of the work

Decoration composed of enamel ( blue)

Materials used in production

white felspathic Stoneware

Techniques used in production

Press moulding : Press moulded white felspathic stoneware, sprig decorated, smear-glazed and painted in blue enamel

Inscription or legends present

  • Text: No 4125. White Castleford hexagonal teapot and cover with moulded designs on the panels which are separated by blue lines. b. in Boscombe, Oct 18, 1917.
  • Location: Underside of base
  • Method of creation: Rectangular paper label handwritten in black ink
  • Type: Label

References and bibliographic entries

Identification numbers

Accession number: C.1277 & A-1928
Primary reference Number: 71714
Old object number: 4125
Stable URI

Audit data

Created: Saturday 6 August 2011 Updated: Monday 15 January 2024 Last processed: Friday 16 February 2024

Associated departments & institutions

Owner or interested party: The Fitzwilliam Museum
Associated department: Applied Arts

Citation for print

This record can be cited in the Harvard Bibliographic style using the text below:

The Fitzwilliam Museum (2024) "Blue lined ‘Castleford-type’ teapot" Web page available at: https://data.fitzmuseum.cam.ac.uk/id/object/71714 Accessed: 2024-04-27 04:20:52

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{{cite web|url=https://data.fitzmuseum.cam.ac.uk/id/object/71714 |title=Blue lined ‘Castleford-type’ teapot |author=The Fitzwilliam Museum|accessdate=2024-04-27 04:20:52|publisher=The University of Cambridge}}

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