ORNATE
ROBERTS
EARLY 1800s
OLD SHEFFIELD PLATE
TEAPOT
FIG KNOP
Raised
on four curving feet (perhaps inspired as stylised dolphins)this super
multi-lobed tea pot sports an acanthus wrapped handle for the lower mount, two
ox bone insulators to same, a decorated tip to its spout of swan’s neck form
and crowned magnificently with a fig and foliate detachable knop. There is a
feint indication of an armorial to the front of the pot, appears to be a two
footed creature of some type but the upper part remains a mystery.
It
is estimated to have been made during the early 1800 period with the easily
recognisable bell logo for the Sheffield maker Roberts (with either Smith or
Cadman), of Eyre Street. We believe this pot to have been made according to the
Old Sheffield Plate method where thin sheets cover the copper beneath.
It
is in very good condition for its age with just minor issues. There has been
repair work to the hinge ,with internal strengthening, this is shown in the
final image. If you examine the images provided you can discern some small
‘bleeds’ to the high curves of the lobes which show under some conditions but
in others are all but lost in the beautiful high gleam of the piece so typical
of this method of plating; there are some copper spots showing to the underside
of the feet.. There is one small soft/gentle push which is easily missable and
proved difficult to photo, you may just make it out in one of the images, it is
towards the high spot of one of the lobes/panels. One foot is slightly more of
the curled persuasion than the other three but does not stop the pot from being
stable and grounded. The bone insulators possess some wear but hold their
position despite some natural age related shrinkage, there is a little play to
the handle but it is still fit for purpose. Anything else is too minimal to
cause offence considering the age of the piece and would need close examination
to find. There are no signs that the
piece has been replated. It is clean to the inner with just very minor signs of
service wear.
Displays
extremely well for its genre, age, and purpose.
Maker’s marks: please see image
Height: 17.3cm/6.9”
Length: 29.2cm/11.4”
Diameter: 18.5cm/7.4”
Weight: 1156g