Staffordshire Pearlware Pottery Agate Teapot with Acorn Finial

The squat oval pearlware pottery teapot has an acorn as the finial with the cover and body overlaid with colored clays to simulate granite or agate. The short angled conical spout and loop handle are plain pearlware. Along the top edge of the side of the teapot is a band of repeating oval panels with a sun with rays highlighted in gold. Encircling each side of the pot in the center is a narrow reeded band.

While the teapot is not marked, Jonathan Richard (see below) mentions that a similar marked example is known with the impressed mark R A Wood, Burslem. Rickard mentions that this surface was possibly what was referred to as ” Terra Tersia” in an auction notice in 1794 of the contents of Ralph Wedgwood’s London warehouse. It was also referred to as tessellated, granite, mosaic, and other terms depending on the maker.

Dimensions: 4 3/4 inches high x 8 inches wide x 4 1/8 inches deep.

Provenance: The Collection of Jonathan Ricard.

Reference: “Mocha and Related dipped wares, 1770-1939″, Jonathan Rickard, page 30, Fig 41, for a very similar teapot but with spaniel dog finial. We have a similar teapot in stock.

See ” An English Pottery Heritage, Part Two, The Troy Dawson Chappell Collection of Earthenware & Stoneware 1630-1800″, Page 837, # 375, for a coffee pot with similar decoration.