A striking and very large vintage brown enamel canteen teapot, capable of delivering around 16 cups of tea.

History of enamel in the home

Up until the late 19^th century your everyday teapot was either ceramic or tin. Although the enamelling process had been invented hundreds of years before, it took the Industrial Revolution to drive forward the quality of vitreous enamelling and its application to everyday household objects; and by the dawn of the 20th Century enamelled kitchen equipment, pans, vessels, kettles and teapots had become commonplace. Enamel teapots became a 1920s alternative to their much heavier ceramic cousins, and the first half of the twentieth century saw their heyday, when enamel kitchenware became all-the-rage. Apart from being much lighter in weight and therefore far easier to use, they survived the rigours of a busy kitchen - for they didn't shatter when dropped. They also made a damn fine brew.

Year of manufacture: c. 1930 - 1950

Origin: England 

Material: enamelware

Diameter 20cm

Height 21.5cm

Width from end of spout to far-side of handle 34cm

Condition: fair, with slight knocks and nibbles to the enamel on the base and top of the spout; on both handles; to the lid rim and knob; and on the underside edge of the base. See images. This adds to its character and is typical of enamel teapots of this age. The interior is completely clean.

Note: much "vintage enamel" popular today was, and still is, made in Poland - and some of it is not as old as it would appear.  This teapot however was made in England and is a genuine early piece.