This is very charming and beautiful teapot set consisting of a teapot with cover, a sucrier with cover, and a little milk jug. The set was made in England probably around 1870, but we don't know who made it. The style mimicks several famous makers: the strongly fluted surface is like the Coalport or Caughley designs of the 1790s; the sparrow-beaked milk jug has a typical 18thC Caughley handle, but not the shape; the set has a pattern very similar to Coalport patterns of about 1795; and the teapot handle has a split Sevres-style handle. The sucrier and teapot have acorn finials that are not like any other acorn finials.
Given the small size of the items, they were probably part of a cabaret set on a matching tray, meant as a "solitaire" set for just one person.
The milk jug is very faintly marked with a pattern number 4/955, which doesn't give any clear clues as to the maker, either.
CONDITION REPORT The set is in perfect antique condition without any damage, repairs or crazing, and hardly any wear; the milk jug is a bit more rubbed than the other items.
Antique British porcelain is never perfect. Kilns were fired on coal in the 1800s, and this meant that china from that period can have some firing specks from flying particles. British makers were also known for their experimentation, and sometimes this resulted in technically imperfect results. Due to the shrinkage in the kiln, items can have small firing lines or develop crazing over time, which should not be seen as damage but as an imperfection of the maker's recipes, probably unknown at the time of making. Items have often been used for many years and can have normal signs of wear, and gilt can have signs of slight disintegration even if never handled. I will reflect any damage, repairs, obvious stress marks, crazing or heavy wear in the item description but some minor scratches, nicks, stains and gilt disintegration can be normal for vintage items and need to be taken into account.
There is widespread confusion on the internet about the difference between chips and nicks, or hairlines and cracks. I will reflect any damage as truthfully as I can, i.e. a nick is a tiny bit of damage smaller than 1mm and a chip is something you can easily see with the eye; a glazing line is a break in the glazing only; hairline is extremely tight and/or superficial and not picked up by the finger; and a crack is obvious both to the eye and the finger. Etcetera - I try to be as accurate as I can and please feel free to ask questions or request more detailed pictures!
DIMENSIONS teapot measures 19cm (7.5") between handle and spout.
English teapot set, white fluted with gilt pattern, ca 1870
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We always aim to have happy customers so if you have an issue with or questions about your item, please contact us and we will do anything we can to resolve the issue with you!