This delightful child's transferware toy teapot dates to c1880. The octagonal shaped covered pitcher stands about 5-1/2 inches to the top of the lid's finial, with a square applied finial and handle. The little pot was originally part of a complete miniature teaset. The color is brilliant marine blue-green sometimes called teal.
The teapot depicts Little Mae standing on a country road carrying an apronful of eggs. She is wearing a hat and one of her socks is falling down. Her farm house can be seen in the background. She is surrounded with an aesthetic background of flowers, birds and lots of geometrical whimsies and fruit along the rim. The image repeats on each side of the teapot.
Made by Charles Allerton & Sons, a pottery manufacturer in the Staffordshire region of England who was well known for his whimsical children’s tea sets. It is marked with pattern number 753 and the pattern name "MAY" inside a belt shaped cartouche. The influence of the Aesthetic movement on the pattern designs captures the Victorian love of nature and the exotic.
The teapot is in great condition with two faint age lines on the top rim, and no chips cracks or repairs. The workmanship is haphazard, which is one of the reasons many people collect it...not fine china, and not meant to be; it was made for children and probably considered disposable. The transfers are not always aligned neatly, and there is runny glaze and little bumps and dips and transfer wrinkles and glazed over edge crizzling original to the making. The naïve and hasty style adds to the folksy and quirky charm. A delightful example of 19th century childrens' pottery. A delightful toy teapot ready to be played with by another generation of children. A fine example of these whimsical wares. Animal lovers all adore this piece!
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