Current Location: Gallery 27 (Glaisher)
Titles
Teapot (part of tea set)
Maker(s)
Pottery:
Adams, William
Entities
Categories
Description
Blue jasper ware, decorated with sprigged classical scenes in white
Cylindrical, with straight spout and raised loop handle with thumb piece. Around the body: four scenes of classical figures, each in an ornate medallion frame, with gadrooning below and a band of small looped circles above. The spout and handle decorated with stylised palettes. The slightly domed cover has a central, spherical knob with vent hole sitting on a daisy-like flower head, surrounded by gadrooning and a band of looped circles. There appears to have been an upright moulding to support the cover, but this has been ground away to better integrate the cover into the upper side of the body. The underside is flat, with a thin foot-rim (see Turner, no 257)
Notes
History note: Given as a wedding present to Mrs Kitchener (Mrs Piele’s grandmother), in 1800
Legal notes
Given by Mrs Kemthorne in memory of Dr & Mrs Peile, 1942
Measurements and weight
Height: 5.5 in
Width: 8.25 in
Acquisition and important dates
Method of acquisition: Given
(1942-09-08)
by
Kempthorne, Mrs
Dating
18th Century, Late
Production date:
circa
AD 1799
Note
Jasper, an unglazed fine stoneware with an impervious surface sheen, was introduced by Wedgwood in the mid 1770s. Other factories, notably Turners of Lane End, soon produced their own versions. Jasper was made in white or solid colour, often blue, and later by dipping in coloured slip (as this cup & saucer). The coloured body was often decorated with sprigs - designs formed in small plaster, clay or brass moulds – applied when the clay was leather hard. Adams is known to have bought sprig moulds in the Turner bankrupcy sale of 1806, though this set is earlier.
William Adams ran a pot works in Tunstall from 1779 until his death in 1805; the business then continued under his son Benjamin until 1821. They produced a wide range of products, but particularly stoneware and jasper ware jugs and mugs featuring neo-classical, hunting or contemporary scenes. In jasper they made ornamental vases, candlesticks, cameos and medallions, as well as tea sets and more unusual shapes.
School or Style
Neoclassical
Materials used in production
jasper
Stoneware
Techniques used in production
Moulding
Identification numbers
Accession number: EC.31.2 & A-1942
Primary reference Number: 76939
Stable URI
Audit data
Created: Saturday 6 August 2011
Updated: Wednesday 15 July 2020
Last processed: Tuesday 13 May 2025
Associated departments & institutions
Owner or interested party:
The Fitzwilliam Museum
Associated department:
Applied Arts
