tea caddy

William Greatbatch

Summary

Public: Baluster shaped tea caddy made of cream coloured earthenware, tapering to an everted foot and with a flared galleried rim. Transfer printed on sides with two large panels picked out in coloured enamels, one side 'The Fortune Teller' and the other 'The XII Houses of Heaven'. Replacement cover with tear shaped finial. Private: Baluster shaped tea caddy tapering to everted foot with impressed beaded border. Flared galleried rim comprising overlapping arches, with beaded border at junction with neck. Sides painted with two vertical panels on opposite sides, comprising scalloped cartouche of flowers in red and yellow with small oval green and gilt medallions above and below, against textured purple ground, reserving two large plain panels transfer-printed in black with different scenes, picked out in coloured enamels. One side printed with 'The Fortune Teller', comprising two ladies standing before the fortune teller, seated at his table with equipment on the floor and a second man behind his chair. The two ladies are given sheets of paper with their fortunes inscribed: 'Never Married' and 'A Husband Desired'. Opposite side printed with 'The XII Houses of Heaven', astrological chart comprising central square divided into twelve numbered triangles around central globe, laid over two circles representing the 'Holomean Sphere' and the 'Copernican System'. Arched scrolls above and below central square read 'The XII Houses / of Heaven', tiny inscriptions beneath spheres giving publication date and manufacturer's name. Galleried rim painted in purple enamel, beaded borders to neck and foot in gilt. Replacement cover with tear shaped finial, painted with three green medallions against purple ground. Cream coloured earthenware body, with crazed greenish glaze.