This early miniature salt glaze teapot is an essay on the beauty of simplicity found in 18th century English design. The clarity of the salt glaze perfectly complements the unpretentious style of this miniature teapot. The simple potting of this piece astounds us: the early ear shape handle, the miniature spool shape knop, the very fine, slightly arced spout, the perfectly turned foot. The potter has made two concessions to decoration, again wonderfully executed--the extra detail finishing the edge of the lid and two incised lines just below the collar. Naive, simple ---- masterful.

Handling this diminutive piece almost gives the feeling of standing next to the eighteenth century potter. There is something tentative about this miniature teapot as if we are not quite sure how to make a handle or just how the spool-like knop is going to fire on the lid. This is a piece for the serious collector -- a piece which will speak volumes to those who will listen.

Our dating for this piece is derived from a similar toy pot included in the superb exhibit "Salt Glazed Stoneware in Early America" continuing in Williamsburg through 2010. Curators Janine Skerry and Suzanne Hood attribute that example to a potter of the Staffordshire region.