TEA FOR TWO: Online Exhibit

Victorians loved their tea! The tradition of teatime was a mainstay of life at Wilderstein, and we are pleased to present this virtual exhibition featuring a selection of teapots from our collection.

William IV style porcelain teapot, circa 1825. This piece is part of a service which includes a matching sugar bowl, creamer, cake plates, and cups. Low, ovoid teapot with curved spout and high c-curve handle. A wide band of roses on a gilt background “rouge de fer” encircles the body of the pot as well as the spout. From the Wilderstein collection.

This large pewter teapot was made by the Taunton Britannia Manufacturing Company in the 1830s and holds six cups. Handle, thumbpiece, and finial are carved wood designed to match the whimsical Moorish design of the body. Thumbpiece is prominent on the handle to provide stability when pouring. The body rests on a tall pedestal. From the Wilderstein collection. 

A fine circa 1870 porcelain teapot with scalloped shoulders, an ornately scrolled-shaped handle, and small thumbpiece. The glaze is a pure white with a deep rose band circling the body. The gilding in a leaf pattern on the spout adds to its elegance. From the Wilderstein collection.

Made by Tressemann & Vogt of Limoges, France circa 1900.  The spherical shape is known as “round pearl.” Decorated with purple violets on a white background, the yellow spout and vine-like handle have gilded accents. In Victorian culture, flowers were the language of love. A white violet symbolized “innocence” and a purple violet conveyed the giver’s “thoughts were occupied with love” of the recipient. From the Wilderstein collection.

This unusually shaped teapot is a favorite and was used by Margaret (Daisy) Suckley when hosting afternoon tea in the video shown to visitors. The teapot is hand-painted with violets on a white background and the handle has thin gold stripes which highlight the geometric shape. In the late nineteenth century, Rhinebeck was growing and shipping millions of violets weekly for corsages and gifts. By the 1920s, Rhinebeck was known as the “Violet Capital of the World.” From the Wilderstein collection.

A cream-colored Taylor, Smith & Taylor teapot made in Chester, West Virginia. The company was a major producer of dinnerware sold in department stores, five-and-dimes, hardware stores, and through catalogs from the 1940s through the 1960s. This simple but lovely teapot was used at Wilderstein as an everyday piece. From the Wilderstein collection.

Margaret (Daisy) Suckley pouring tea at Wilderstein, 1976.