Teapot

1875-1900

Measurements

7 in x 7-7/8 in x 5-1/4 in

Materials

Brown lead glaze on yellow earthenware (Rockinghamware)

Credit Line

Historic Odessa Foundation, anonymous gift

Accession Number

2020.58

Inscription

Two five-pointed stars are stamped into the outside bottom near the edge below the spout.

Comments

The tea pot has ten panels molded into the body; the underside of the bottom has ten molded feet.  The handle points upward.  Most unusual is the scene molded into each side.  It shows two Chinese figures, one seated in a chair and the other standing and wearing a robe.  He is presenting food to her.  The lid, which keys into tabs in the pot, has a high dome with a finial.  The lid has similar triangular or serrated bands as at the top of the body.  Five-pointed stars are enclosed within each triangle.

The detail on this "Chinoiserie" (i.e., in the Chinese taste) teapot is simply not evident in this casting.  Other examples of this same casting are much clearer.  This teapot was likely made from a pirated mold, made by a competing pottery from a cast example.  The clearly detailed examples carry a patent date of May 26, 1874, in a raised panel molded into the outside bottom.  The bottom on this teapot is unglazed and without any patent information.  Instead, it two small five-pointed stars impressed near one of the ten molded foot nubs.  The original casting was at the Phoenix Pottery, Kaolin & Firebrick Co., Phoenixville, Pennsylvania (1867–1902).