Teapot

PeriodCirca 1800-1810

Place MadeMexborough, England

MediumFeldspathic stoneware

Dimensions6.75 × 10 × 5 in. (17.1 × 25.4 × 12.7 cm)

ClassificationsFood Service, Serving Vessels

Credit LineGift of Mr. J. B. Morris, Jr., 1950

Object number1979.1000.8

DescriptionA teapot with a sliding removable lid of feldspathic stoneware. The pot has a paneled ovoid body, with a floral chain gallery and an alternating acanthus and bellflower border along the shoulder. Two central panels, each with elaborate plume and flute corner treatments at top and an elaborate feathered plume border along the bottom, depict a church in a pastoral setting and romantic castle ruins, both delicately hand painted in enamel. The shaped spout and handle are highlighted with cobalt blue banding.
Curatorial RemarksThis teapot is thought to have originated from the Sowter factory in Staffordshire, England. Robert Sowter established his pottery in 1800 in Mexborough, South Yorkshire. Sowter soon took William Bromley as a partner. In 1808, Sowter moved to Hull and acted as a distributor for his factory's products. Sowter & Company produced a variety of wares, mainly pearlwares (banded, mocha, shell-edged, and transfer printed) and feldspathic stonewares. Many Sowter pieces were apparently marked with numbers only, possibly corresponding to the specific block molds used to produce the pieces.

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