| Description
| High fired reddish earthenware teapot with shiny black glaze (jet ware). Lid accessioned as RG.1978.485.b. Cylindrical body tapering slightly to top. Thin curving spout with wide terminal. Angular strap handle. 3 single SPUR marks on base. Decorated with brown overglaze transfer print with 'International Exhibition of Industry, Science and Art Glasgow 1888' on a banner with flowering plants on one wall. On other wall brown transfer print of Kelvingrove. On other wall is an image of buildings in a landscape, probably representing the exhibition site. All transfers picked out in overglaze green, orange, blue and 'bright' gold. Gilt detail on handle and spout. British, but no maker's marks. Believed to be made by the Caledonian Pottery.
The Caledonian Pottery was founded in 1800 in the north of Glasgow, making items ranging from porcelain and creamware to stoneware and bricks. It is particularly know for producing a range of stoneware items and for teapots with a brown Rockingham glaze – the Ru’glen Broon. In 1872 the pottery moved to Rutherglen, a town to the east of Glasgow. In 1898 it was bought by the jam manufacturer W.P.Hartley to supply stoneware jam jars, but after the introduction of glass jars the pottery closed in 1928. Items may be marked with Townhead Pottery, Caledonian, Murray & Co, M & Co, Murray & Coupar, M & C, Murray & Fullarton, M & F or Murray. |
