Teapot with Lid

Dateca. 1765

Maker Christian's Factory

Maker Philip Christian

OriginEngland, Liverpool

MediumSoft-paste porcelain

DimensionsOverall: 5in. (12.7cm)

Credit LineMuseum Purchase, The Friends of Colonial Williamsburg Collections Fund

Object number2004-58,A&B

DescriptionSoft-paste porcelain teapot, hand painted with the 'birds in branches' or 'tufted bird' pattern. The lid is slightly domed with an acorn shaped finial. The body of the teapot is round with an 's' shaped spout and rounded handle.
Label TextA great deal of porcelain was produced in Liverpool during the second half of the eighteenth century. Liverpool was also one of the most important English ports involved in the export of items to the American colonies. Subsequently, some porcelain manufactured in Liverpool made its way to America. Liverpool porcelain fragments decorated with the so-called 'birds in branches' or 'tufted bird' pattern have been excavated from several sites in Williamsburg including the Anderson's Blacksmith shop, Ludwell's tenement, the Governor's Palace, the Brick House Tavern, Lot 269 near the Public Goal, and the Geddy site. All of the fragments uncovered were from tea and coffee wares.

This particular teapot was produced at the factory of Philip Christian on Shaw's Brow in Liverpool. Christian partnered with Richard Chaffers from 1755 until Chaffers’ death in 1765 after which Philip Christian continued the factory on his own. The porcelain produced at the Shaw's Brow factory was soapstone porcelain, a type of soft-paste porcelain. Soaprock is a naturally occurring mixture of china clay and magnesium silicate. Soft-paste porcelain made from soapstone can retain more detail and is tougher than other soft-paste formulas such as those incorporating bone ash or glassy frit.
ProvenancePurchased from Roderick Jellicoe in London, England.