Superb Vintage Art Deco Novelty Green Racing Car Teapot 1930’s- Made in England- Registered Number: 820236 -Lego on base. View picture six and there is a manufacturers hair line mark. View this link for more pictures https://photos.app.goo.gl/rNN5QVNgnaH1wWZU6
The Racing Car teapot was first made in 1937. It is arguably the most
famous novelty teapot of all time, with its distinctive number plate OKT42
(okay tea for two).
Evidence is scant, but it is claimed by many
collectors that the first teapots were multi-coloured in orange, black and green
applied over a white glaze (which can be seen if you look inside the pot).
The most common colours are green, yellow, and
cream. All the early teapots were also finished in a platinum lustre, which
looks like chrome plate. The lustre contains silver and, as well as being awfully
expensive, is difficult to apply and fire. Lustre can, if treated harshly, wear
thin and/or reveal scratches.
Small batches of the OKT42 teapots were also
glazed in Black, Blue, Grey, Pink, and Maroon; all were finished with platinum
lustre.
Until the outbreak of the war in 1939, the factory
did not use a “Sadler” backstamp. The base of the teapots was simply marked,
“Made in England”, along with the design registration number “820236”.
Like most of the pottery industry, the Sadler
factory was soon producing wares, under licence, for the War Department.
Production of the OKT42 teapots was stopped, until the cessation of hostilities
in 1945.
Silver was now in short supply, and the price of
platinum lustre soared. So, the factory came up with a novel plan to decorate most
of the teapots. The pots were first glazed in a base colour, then a slightly
different colour was applied with a sponge. This gave a pleasing, mottled
effect, which was much cheaper to manufacture. The OKT42 number plate was no
longer applied.
It was obviously even cheaper to make the pots in
a single colour. The factory wasn’t averse to this idea and many thousands were
churned out in this fashion. A thin luminous glaze was used, which is very
pleasant but didn’t prove popular.
The small number of post-war teapots, finished
with platinum lustre, are easily recognised by today’s collector. All pots made
after (and including) 1945 carry the Sadler backstamp and, very often, the
decorator’s initial(s).
Due to the success of the Mabel Lucy Atwell
illustrations, the Sadler factory also made a brave attempt at imitating that
style. Small Attwell-style transfers were applied to the cream glazed teapots.
Instead of platinum lustre, a bright orange glaze was used. Today this teapot
is very sought after, and the value has soared.
The factory did, however, experiment with several
different colour glazes. You could also ask the factory to apply a
“personalised” registration number, for a nominal sum. You may come across one
with the number plate, “1937”. This was applied to the first pots, displayed at
the trade shows of that year. Dealers, today, are asking around £1000 (Euros
1500 or $1750) for a mint example. See our price guide for all versions of this
teapot.
Production of the Racing Teapot finally ceased in
1952 when the factory, like most of the decorative industries, geared up to
making products to celebrate the crowning of the new Queen, Elizabeth.
This magnificent eye-catching Superb Vintage Art Deco Novelty Green Racing Car Teapot 1930’s. Made in England- Registered Number: 820236 -Lego on base. Wound be a fabulously and magnificent Limited-Edition items for any collector or someone to start collecting these Gorgeous designed Porcelain Figurines. All are hand crafted and hand painted and then glazed to maintain the perfect condition for years to come.
Gracefully designed to show a Strong detailed and well sculpted in rich Bold colours This Beautifully hand painted Picture would enhance as a fantastic centre piece in everyone’s home.
Excellent Condition no damage to item at all. In Original Condition. Ideal for a collector or as a gift. This fantastic Figurine will increase in price as it is a retired item. When sending items by post, I double protect all my items, to make sure that it reaches you as it left me in Perfect Order. PERFECT COLLECTABLE FOR THE FUTURE OR TO GIVE AS A GIFT