This is a superb coffee pot made in England between 1800 and 1825. The pot is made of pearlware and has a very charming blue transfer printed pattern of fallow deer in a snowy landscape with farm buildings.
This transfer print looks like an early 19thC print; as we couldn't identify the maker it was impossible to date it exactly. A charming detail is that the rim of the cover and the footrim, which are printed with a row of houses, both are printed up side down; this was probably done by children, who often did the smaller transfer prints because their little fingers could handle the thin strips of paper better than adults.
The coffeepot is unmarked. There is an old shop label on the underside stating it is "English, probably Spode" - however, although this pot is certainly English, it is certainly not Spode.
CONDITION REPORT The coffee pot is in good antique and usable condition without any damage to the pot or the spout; there are just some chips off the lower rim of the cover, which are not visible when in position and are inconsequential for using the pot. As is normal for antique pearlware, there is some crazing.
Antique British porcelain or pearlware is never perfect. Kilns were fired on coal in the 1800s, and this meant that china from that period can have some firing specks from flying particles. British makers were also known for their experimentation, and sometimes this resulted in technically imperfect results. Due to the shrinkage in the kiln, items can have small firing lines or develop crazing over time, which should not be seen as damage but as an imperfection of the maker's recipes, probably unknown at the time of making. Items have often been used for many years and can have normal signs of wear, and gilt can have signs of slight disintegration even if never handled. I will reflect any damage, repairs, obvious stress marks, crazing or heavy wear in the item description but some minor scratches, nicks, stains and gilt disintegration can be normal for vintage items and need to be taken into account.
There is widespread confusion on the internet about the difference between chips and nicks, or hairlines and cracks. I will reflect any damage as truthfully as I can, i.e. a nick is a tiny bit of damage smaller than 1mm and a chip is something you can easily see with the eye; a glazing line is a break in the glazing only; hairline is extremely tight and/or superficial and not picked up by the finger; and a crack is obvious both to the eye and the finger. Etcetera - I try to be as accurate as I can and please feel free to ask questions or request more detailed pictures!
DIMENSIONS 23cm (9:) high and 22cm (8.75") between handle and spout.
