Lot 493
A fine George I Scottish tapered bullet teapot
Auction: 11 February 2015 at 10:00 GMT
Description
Henry Bethune, Edinburgh 1719, the tapered bullet teapot of simple form with flush lid with moulded hinge and cast acorn finial, with straight tapering spout and C scroll wooden handle with raised thumbpiece
Dimensions
Height: 13cm, 13.7oz
Footnote
Provenance;
probably, Sotheby's October 25th 1984 lot 286
Private Scottish Collection
Notes:
Henry Bethune appears to be one of the largest exponents of fine early tea wares in Edinburgh. He appears to have been ideally placed in the market and with a reputation already in place when this new fashion for silver teapots started in Scotland around 1714.
This example, only five years later than the earliest recorded Scottish teapot, shows great skill in the style and practice of making. The tapered bullet for such as this would quickly be replaced by the more standard spherical pattern on a foot, making tapered plain examples like this rare.