BACKGROUND HISTORY:
The decoration on this Tea Pot depicts the falls which are part of the river Skell, situated next to the large Fountains Abbey complex which was founded in the 12th Century and remained in continuous use for the next 400 years. Today it is largely unoccupied (except for small areas used for exhibitions etc) and is owned by the National Trust.
While running water (obtained from one of the spring's from the river Skell) was considered a necessity back in the 12th Century, this spring (and others surrounding the Abbey complex) are now a headache due to climate change, particularly when the abbey experienced extensive flooding in the early 2000's. In 2021, the National Trust issued a press release to give notice to the climate change problem, stating that the Abbey "is at risk of being irreparably damaged by flooding ..."
Here is a contemporary view of the area depicted on both sides of the Tea Pot
Without a word of a lie, this "The Abbey Falls" teaset accessory is a stunner, one of my wife's pride and joy's but reality has hit, she needs to make room for her other treasures ... this piece must find a new caring owner.
DLAT Rating: 10/10 (Darling Look At This!)
JAMES SADLER - Tea Pot with lid
James Sadler England
Circa - production of these barrel shaped teaset accessories was anywhere between 1937 ~ 1947
Shape: Footed Barrel
Decoration: Depiction of the Fountains Abbey and the falls in the foreground, the full colour artwork has been hand decorated as evidenced by very close inspection of the decoration (no dot patterns!) and the underside Artist's mark in Lime Green. Colouring used is vivid and bright with the handle and spout having an almost Art Deco look to them ... diamond shapes interspersed with Mauve coloured flowers.
The cream body of the Tea Pot has extensive Gold gilded artwork, flowers and foliage - not infilled with colour.
Finished with extensive, heavy use of hand applied Gold gilding to many areas including the lid "bow handle", lid edges, lid opening edges, both sides of the side handle, mouth and topside of the spout (very heavy gilding), framing of each side of the artwork and two lines around the base foot.
This is one very imposing tea pot! It screams "look at me, look at me!"
Seriously though, the decorative skills of the artist and the gilder at the works is very impressive, not perfect (it is hand decorated afterall) but very very good.
DIMENSIONS/WEIGHT:
This is quite a large tea pot ...
Stands 160mm height x 145mm width (wide spout extends a further 60mm plus the large (easy to hold) handle extends a further 50mm from the 'rear')
Width of the tea pot is 98mm
Weight (without tea of any kind inside!) is 850g
BACKSTAMP
COSMETIC CONDITION:
DISPLAY ONLY - this Tea Pot has never had seen a drop of tea as it has always been on display in one of our crowded cabinets.
NO cracks to the body
NO decorative discolouration, in fact the colouring is quite stunning and vibrant
NO cracks or chips to the lid
NO cracks or damage to the spout
NO wear or other damage to the Gold decoration and gilding
I do notice a small chip on the top, inside rectangular area where the lid fits. This is very small and barely noticeable and completely invisible when the lid is on the teapot.
Yes, there is light crazing visible to the underside and topside body where there is no decoration - this crazing is very light and not terribly noticeable. In very good condition considering 'she' is around 75+ years old, if only I looked that good at 75!
SPECIAL NOTE:
While each piece of this three piece teaset accessory set is available for purchase individually, I have created a special code that can be used in the checkout area IF all three pieces are being purchased (if all three remain available) - the discount code to use in the checkout is JAMESABBEYFALLS, this will provide an immediate 30% discount off all three items.
