Tea Leaf

Body Style: Scroll and Fan

Biography

One of the body styles made by Sebring and named by the tea leaf club. It features branch-like handles similar to Chelsea, with heavy gold decoration on lids in a triangle like design that "sections" the piece and forms almost a cameo around the tea leaf.  

Naming Source: Club Named
Manufacturing Era: 1880s, 1890s, 20th Century
Type of Company: Potter
Type of Ware: Bath, Dinnerware
Treatments: Gold Lustre
Footprints/Shapes: Oval, Round
Potters:
Sebring Pottery
Motifs:
Tea Leaf

Body Style: Sydenham Shape

Biography

Sydenham Shape was a factory named shape generally thought to have been registered about 1853 by T & R Boote and Joseph Clementson.  While tea leaf decorated wares are thought to have begun around 1856, the Anthony Shaw mark on an early piece of Sydenham Shape predates this. 

 

This body style on holloware such as sugar bowls and teapots features an elongated leaf folded up from the bottom over vertical panels .  Plates can be found in round and octagonal shapes.

Naming Source: Factory Named
Manufacturing Era: 1850s
Type of Company: Potter
Type of Ware: Dinnerware
Treatments: Copper Lustre
Footprints/Shapes: Oval, Round
Potters:
Boote
Clementson
Shaw
Motifs:
Tea Leaf

Body Style: Seashore (Plain)

Biography

A body style by corn with a shell finial and dolphin handles - hence seashore.  Produced by W & E Corn, this body style features a squarish shape similar to Bamboo. Handles are large bracket shaped.

Naming Source: Club Named
Manufacturing Era: 1880s, 1890s
Type of Company: Potter
Type of Ware: Dinnerware
Treatments: Copper Lustre
Footprints/Shapes: Rectangular
Potters:
Corn
Motifs:
Tea Leaf

Potter: Pleasant Company

Biography

The Pleasant Company was formed in 1986.  They produced a "tea leaf" miniature compote set to go with a black American Doll, Addy's Birthday Story.  The compotes were produced from 1994 to 2007.

Location: N/A
Origins: American
Manufacturing Era: 20th Century Modern
Type of Company: Potter
Type of Ware: Novelty
Treatments: Copper Lustre
Body Styles:
N/A
Motifs:
Tea Leaf

Potter: James White, SJ

Biography

Father James White is a Jesuit Priest born in 1937.  He started potting in 1970, and made the first "tea leaf" pots in 1982  he was encouraged by Annise Heaivilin.  He mad a gray pottery with cobalt blue tea leaves.  He sold his first wares at the 1983 convention;  at teh 1984 convention, he deonstarted pottery making.

 

On 2000, he hosted a regional at his home in Kansas City.  He stopped potting in 2002.

 

Location: Kansas City, Missouri
Origins: American
Manufacturing Era: 20th Century Modern
Type of Company: Potter
Type of Ware: Novelty
Treatments: N/A
Body Styles:
N/A
Motifs:
Tea Leaf

Potter: Paul McNeely

Biography

The China Bull - it was established in 1965 in Liberty, Missouri.  He produced miniature tea leaf - both dining and bath - in the 1980's.  It was even sold through the Giftique for a time until about 1989.

Location: Liberty, Missouri
Origins: American
Manufacturing Era: 20th Century Modern
Type of Company: Potter
Type of Ware: Novelty
Treatments: Copper Lustre
Body Styles:
N/A
Motifs:
Tea Leaf