teapot

Summary

Lozenge shaped teapot, with angled tapering base on moulded spreading foot, angled shoulder and short straight neck. Spout in the form of an open-mouthed serpent with grooved underbelly, loop handle in the form of scaly dolphin with curved tail at lower terminal. Sides slip-cast in relief with central pecten shell within recessed panel, surrounded by alternating borders of S-scrolls and Greek key, borders repeated across shoulder, Greek key border repeated across base and foot. All instances of Greek key picked out with cobalt blue wash. Lozenge shaped domed cover with rabbit finial, pierced cross-shaped hole to one side, wavy and ribbed borders picked out in cobalt blue wash. Black specks in glaze to foot.

Display Label

The Thomas Greg Collection The Greg Collection of English Pottery was given to the Gallery in 1904 by collector and amateur historian Thomas Greg. One of the great collections of English pottery, it was formed at a time when little was known about the history of ceramics in this country. Over forty years Greg systematically acquired some of the best examples of the potter's art, tracing its development over a thousand years. His collection tells the story of English pottery: of experiment and invention, triumph and downfall, from the unknown medieval craftsman to the world domination of Josiah Wedgwood. In many ways, it is a history of England itself. Greg was driven by a fascination with the past and a desire to contribute to scholarly knowledge. He gave his collection to the Gallery in the hope of inspiring a similar sense of wonder in others.