Lot 325
A scarce George I Scottish silver apple-shaped teapot
Auction: 17 August 2009 at 15:00 BST
Description
Colin MacKenzie, Edinburgh 1721-22, assay Master Edward Penman, of simple plain tapered form with shaped foot, with straight spout and muscular handle with ivory insulators, the hinged cover with shaped hinge and ivory bun finial on stepped mount and with silver cap
Dimensions
15cm high 20.5oz
Footnote
Notes: Apple-shaped teapots are in any instance scarce, but to find one of such an early date is extremely unusual. An earlier example by Colin MacKenzie (Edinburgh 1715-16) is recorded in the National Museum of Scotland collection, but the present example must be considered one of the earliest Scottish teapots of any form available to collectors.
From extant examples this form of teapot only seems to have lasted in Scotland for a short time from circa 1714 - 1730, before the more commonly known spherical bullet-shaped teapot becomes the standard.