Tea Leaf

Dignity is a bulbous body style of the late 19th century. Its shape is reminiscent of a Victorian matron in her heyday. The fluted body is embellished with a botanical embossing emanating from the upper handle terminals. Teapots also show this embossing on the opposite side of the handle terminal high above the spout.

The circular arch finial and C-shaped handles are other attributes on holloware pieces.

The Thomas Hughes and Son, England, mark tells us that this late body style was potted between 1895 and 1910.

The square lines of the sugar bowl reflect the Eastlake style of architecture popular at the end of the 19th century. 

The most distinctive feature of Beaded Bow is the bow finial and the beading on both the finial and on the bracket style handles.

Favorite is a square body style with rounded sides and ribbed lower body sections. Handles and finials resemble twined rope giving these features a barbershop pole effect. It is found with many other types of decoration including transfer patterns and blue overlay - thus the name "Favorite." Registered in 1886.

Gentle Square, named for the rounded contours of its basic square shape, is probably best known for its whimsical handle and finial treatment. The body has corner fluting similar to Meakin's Fishhook body style. Some collectors have nicknamed this style "Rooster," while others feel the design resembles a fish rather than a fowl.

Registered in 1876.

Unlike his predecessors, Elsmore & Forster, Thomas Elsmore used the standard Tea Leaf motif on his wares. While it is usually found in creamy yellow shades of ironstone, there are known pieces in the traditional white color. The shape is essentially a very bulbous round with high domed lids on the lidded tea set pieces. The oriental flavor of the shape is reminiscent of the ginger-jars of ancient China.

The Greek city of Delphi is our inspiration for this Thomas Elsmore & Son body style. The geometric figures in the finial, squares and circles and a rosette medallion, recall the grandeur of the ancient civilization where Geometry was born. The handles reflect this same design.

This body style is basically plain but the embossing on the finial and handles of the sauce tureen adds a sense of strength to this spartan style.

John Edwards' stylish Camille is indentified by the distinctive "Porcelaine de Terre" mark. Every 4 inches along the base of an ewer there are two pairs of soft fluting that rise four inches. The soft fluting is repeated at the top extending down 1.5 inches. A scrolled 'c' design decorates the handle with a leaf impression at the top handle terminal. There is scalloped embossing almost like lace edging at the throat.

Truly a lovely example of the potter's art.

Hebe Shape children's pieces are tiny replicas of adult-sized dinnerware of the mid-nineteenth century. So named because of it's similarity to the adult-sized Hebe Shape of John Alcock, the detail of the lobed body shape and lavish use of copper lustre compliment the distinctive Davenport early Tea Leaf motif.

These pieces are extremely delicate and fragile which probably explains why so few examples are found in 21st century collections.

Coornet is a plain round style characterized by a crown-like finial on covered holloware pieces. Note that some pieces like gravy boats and covered vegetables feature an unusual scalloped footprint. 

An embossed floral design characterizes this unusual square body style. Stamped Royal arms mark reads: "Ironstone china, W & E Corn, Burslem" indicating a pre-1891 mark.