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For quality antiques visit www.TeaAntiques.comAntique of the month - A very rare Staffordshire Salt-glazed Teapot and Cover, Decorated with Portrait and Inscription of Frederick the Great, King of Prussia, c1760
Frederick the Great, King of Prussia was a very popular figure in England in the late 1750s and early 1760s, the time from which this beautiful teapot dates. In 1756, Frederick established an alliance with England against Maria Theresa, France, Russia, Sweden and Saxony. This alliance had been formed at the start of the Seven Years' War, which raged through central Europe from 1756 to 1763. It was this war that effectively ended the reign of Meissen's stylistic influence on European designs after half a century of domination.
There is a charming and rustic 'crabstock' handle, painted with black lines along its moulded shape. This is certainly a very rare and beautiful English Staffordshire, salt-glazed teapot dating from 1760. It is decorated commemorating Frederick III of Prussia, and thus has great historical significance. Not only a rare teapot, but one of historical importance. A magnificent piece for the collector of antique English salt-glazed ware. More details of this item and other tea related antiques can be found by visiting my web site at www.TeaAntiques.com. To see the latest items, click here. Brighton Museum & Art Gallery - Antique tea china treat
The museum and art gallery is conveniently situated near to the centre of
town in the shadow of the famous Brighton Royal Pavilion, the extravagant pavilion of
the Prince Regent, later King George IV. From the entrance to the museum, one
can look back at the exotic skyline of the pavilion, its many minarets profiled
against the sky.
Housed in one large gallery is a very fine collection of early antique china and pottery. This impressive collection was the work of one man, Mr Willet 1823-1905. He amassed and documented the items into categories such as religion, political, sporting themes etc. there are 23 such groupings and the museum has now displayed the collection in the same groupings that were intended by Mr Willet. This has been beautifully achieved with fine new display cabinets, well lit, displayed and documented notes on every item - a true paradise for the lover of antique porcelain. For the lover of tea antiques there is certainly many exciting teapots, jugs etc. to be enjoyed.
As part of the new display and layout there are some computer terminals in the exhibition room, designed to assist the visitor in their search or quest for information regarding the individual items within the collection. This system is easy to use, with touch screen instructions (even I could manage to use it!). To give you a flavour of the porcelain relating to tea within the collection, I have photographed some of the exhibits, which I hope that you will enjoy viewing too.
A Creamware mug, c1790, made in Staffordshire is beautifully decorated with
three men, hands joined to support the Cap of Liberty. There is an inscription
on a banner which says 'Union to the People of America'.
The next teapot that caught my eye was this one made at 'Cockpit hill', Derby. One side of the teapot is printed with Britannia, the other side with a portrait, signed by Thomas Radford, of the controversial MP John Wilkes (1727-97), regarded as a champion of free speech.
One of the twenty three categories of the collections is religion. The teapot found here is of enamelled Creamware and made by William Greatbatch, Fenton, Staffordshire. It is painted with Chinese figures and inscribed 'Let your conversation Be upon the Gospel of Christ'.
One teapot, which has the most amazing painted decoration, is this fine one
made by Minton, Stoke-on-Trent, c1805. The oval bodied teapot is of soft-paste
porcelain and the exquisite painting is of Kings Chapel and Clare Hall in
Cambridge-still very much a recognisable view today.
Moving away from teapots, I saw this handsome coffee pot. Made at the famous Wedgwood factory in Etruria, Staffordshire, it is decorated with an outdoor scene known as the 'Tea Party'. The tea drinkers are attended by a young black page. This coffee pot is in a category depicting black people in British history. The scene shows one of the many variations of the tea party. A wealthy man and lady sit in an arbour while a black page pours water from a kettle into a teapot. The group reflects the use of the young black domestic servant as a status symbol in the household, a notion which prevailed, in art at least, from the sixteenth to the eighteenth centuries.
On that note, I made progress from the exhibition, which I enjoyed immensely,
to take tea in the 'Gallery Café', situated within the museum. I do hope that
you have enjoyed the small sample of delights to be discovered in this wonderful
museum and exhibition and have a chance to visit it yourself.
The Royal Pavilion Gardens Tea in the 'Gallery Café', Brighton Museum
The Gallery Café, like the museum has a new and modern feel to it. There is a counter upon which is displayed the home-made cakes available on the menu. The furniture is smart and comfortable. From my table I had a chance to view the museum gallery below and to sit and take in all that I had viewed in the stunning new porcelain gallery.
Following the sandwiches was a home-made fruit scone. This was delicious, warm and soft textured on the inside with a crisp outside crust. Presented with the scone was a dish of strawberry jam and lightly whipped cream. It is always a treat to go to a Café where the scones are fresh and home-made, like these were, it makes all the difference! Finally, I selected to have the layered lemon sponge, again fresh and home-made. This, like the rest of the fare was wonderful, light rich sponge sandwiched with two layers of tangy lemon curd and topped with sweet water icing. Having enjoyed the afternoon tea, I was informed by the friendly and extremely pleasant owner, Heather Tomlinson, that she prided herself in being one of only a few places in Brighton where a traditional full afternoon tea could still be enjoyed. It was obvious that she had a great pride and passion in her service and quality of food that she offered. Even better news is that she has another Café within neighbouring Hove Museum, I cannot wait to visit the museum and to report on her Café there - watch this space! Certainly, the Gallery Café is well worth a visit if ever you find yourself Regency Brighton. Gallery Café For quality antiques visit www.TeaAntiques.comTo review past newsletters, just follow this link:
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The
decoration on this very rare teapot celebrates England's alliance with
Frederick, showing the King's profile on one side and the Prussian Eagle on the
other. The black and white ground decoration over the teapot depicts ermine, a
reference to Royalty.
In the wonderful Regency city of Brighton, on the South Coast of England, is
an exciting newly refurbished museum and art gallery in which is a fabulous
collection of antique porcelain, including many exciting tea wares.
Like the pavilion, the museum and art gallery is housed in a building with
the same architectural theme. Inside, the museum has recently received a massive
new make over, with many improvements. There is a very light and modern entrance
foyer, with shop and help reception.
Henry
Willett was a founder of Brighton museum, a man with great enthusiasm towards
collecting. Born in Newhaven, the youngest of eleven children. He moved to
Brighton in 1841, a clever businessman who, on his death, left an estate of
£230,000. He ran his family's brewery business and also bought up properties
within the Sussex area. His collecting was wide and varied, from excavating
fossils from the chalk Sussex Downs to natural history specimens and local
products. The collection of pottery and porcelain illustrates British popular
history. First exhibited in 1873, it grew and developed into a fine collection
that was presented to Brighton in 1903. Willett believed that the ceramic
figures and vessels could tell the story of political, social and cultural
history through the images portrayed on the items.
The
first exhibit to attract my attention, was this lovely teapot depicting the
'Bonnie Prince Charlie'. The teapot is painted with a charming portrait of the
Prince within a cartouche. There are sprays of White English roses on one side
of the portrait and Scottish purple thistles on the other. There is a
naturalistic crab stock shaped handle and spout to the teapot.
This
magnificent coffee pot, c1796 was probably made in Liverpool and is decorated
with enamels on Creamware. The decoration on one side is of the American ship 'Astrea
of Wiscasset' on the other side of the pot is a family scene.
This
rather charming Creamware teapot, c1775, has a metal capped spout and decorated
with a seated fox. The teapot was made by William Greatbatch, Fenton,
Staffordshire. The decoration of the fox has an inscription below it of 'Beware
of the Fox', this referring to drunkenness!
Within
the section devoted to sport and Leisure activities is a lovely set of items
showing people fishing. The teapot here was made in Liverpool (it has a
replacement lid) and is beautifully decorated on each side with a man fishing
beside a river. Not only was fishing a gentleman's sport as can be seen from the
mug, c1765. This mug is made of soft-paste porcelain and originates from the
famous Worcester factory. Printed on one side is a scene showing fortune telling
and on the other with ladies fishing, known as the 'Whitton Anglers'.
A
Pearlware teapot, made c1800 by John Aynsley, Lane End, Staffordshire, shows a
printed scene of women climbing into a milling machine and is inscribed with
'Old women ground young'.
A
large Creamware tea canister, c1780 is a lovely item in the collection. It is
beautifully relief moulded with a scene from one of Aesop's fables, this
particular one of the 'Fox and the Crane'. On the side of the canister it is
painted with the word 'Bohea' describing the tea content.
Another
teapot by William Greatbatch is printed and enamelled with an episode from the
parable 'The Prodigal Son in Misery'.
A
Creamware teapot, c1781, depicts Lord Cornwallis (1738-1805) and some British
troops in America. This fabulous teapot was made by William Greatbatch.
A
similar notion is displayed on this pretty Worcester milk jug, c1760. This is
printed with a design, probably the work of Robert Hancock. The design is of the
tea party and a maid preparing a tea table with a little black boy carrying a
kettle. The image of the maid is taken from an engraving by Gravelot after
Quadrille (1743), one of Frances Hayman's decorative paintings of 1743 executed
for the supper boxes in the Vauxhall Pleasure Gardens. The exotically dressed
page derives from Plate 11 of Hogarth's 'A Harlot's Progress' published in 1732.
Brighton
Museum & Art gallery
A
very warm welcome with smiles awaits visitors to the the 'Gallery Café' within
Brighton Museum. Having enjoyed the museum exhibitions, I was in for an extra
treat in taking a wonderful afternoon tea in the Café there. The 'Gallery Café',
so called as it is situated up on a gallery from where you can sit and enjoy
views over on of the museum galleries which contains early twentieth century
furnishings.
I
was very impressed with the friendly and attentive service that I received in
the Café. I ordered the full High Tea, which I am pleased to say was really
delightful. The tea comprised a set of four quarter sandwiches, two of smoked
salmon and two of cucumber with soft cream cheese. These were freshly made with
white bread on one side and brown on the other side of each sandwich, giving
them a colourful and decorative appearance.
