Interest Brewing for Local Teapot
Interest Brewing for Local Teapot
By Elizabeth Talbot
A little pot for tea, potted by the sea; as good as new it's actually, late 18th Century! Rare and early, from farthest East and now for sale in Diss; all the way from Lowestoft, a gem not to be missed.
Poem by Elizabeth Talbot
Among over 700 lots consigned for TW Gaze’s ever-popular Christmas Sale this year is a rare, early Lowestoft porcelain blue and white teapot. Auctioneer Elizabeth Talbot said “Dating from the early years of the factory’s production, not long after it began operating in 1757, the rib-moulded spherical body shows the adventurous spirit of the Suffolk potters who were trying to emulate the highly sophisticated precedents set by trend-setters such as Worcester. This is a complicated shape and pattern to produce successfully and is highly refined in terms of Georgian taste. It has been executed beautifully and remains in amazing near-original condition.”
Documented in the famous reference book “Lowestoft Porcelains” by Geoffrey Godden (plate 49), by 1969 it is recorded as having been “formerly at South Quay Museum, Great Yarmouth”; it has spent the last 40 years or so in private hands in East Anglia. Now it has reached the open market and it is causing quite a stir amongst serious collectors of Lowestoft porcelain. “The expectation of value has been steadily growing over the last couple of weeks” explains Elizabeth.” From the original photographs we received it was thought to be worth £400 -600; this was raised to £600 – 800 once we had inspected it, but subsequent interest suggests it could comfortably realise four figures”.
This little piece of local history may not be everyone’s cup of tea, but its certainly causing a stir ahead of the auction on Friday 6 December. Viewing for this and many other sumptuous lots, including a consignment from one of the family apartments at Oxburgh Hall, is on Thursday 5 December 2pm – 8pm and on morning of the sale from 8.30am. Catalogue details are available at twgaze.co.uk.
