A very rare Chelsea teapot and cover, circa 1752-54

the faceted body moulded with strawberry leaves, resting on four feet, finely painted probably by Jefferyes Hamett O'Neale, with cartouches of travellers and cattle in pastoral landscapes, two insects and a bouquet of flowers at the spout, the cover with a vine finial, red anchor mark, restored crack to spout and minor chips.

Christie's, London,  9th June 1980, lot 1
The Dr. Paul Riley Collection
Acquired from Simon Spero, London, 10th February 1999

London, Graham and Oxley, English Porcelain Painters of the 18th Century, 1981, illustrated in the exhibition catalogue, no. 1

Hugo Morley-Fletcher, Techniques of the World's Great Masters of Pottery and Ceramics, 1997, p. 152, col. pl. top
Elizabeth Adams, Chelsea Porcelain, 2001, p. 108, fig. 8.17 and 8.18

There is a small restored chip to the left side of the tip of the spout with a short minor associated hairline crack. The spout has been cleanly broken and restored approximately half way down. There is a flat shallow chip to the underside of the rim of the cover, there are some minute chips to flange.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

Very few Chelsea teapots of this form are recorded. An example painted with bouquets of flowers, from the Shand Kydd collection, was sold in these rooms on 4th June 1996, lot 246, and was previously in the Hon. Alexander Carnegie collection, sold by Christie's, 3rd July 1967, lot 182. Another similar teapot, painted in Meissen style with panels of harbour scenes, was also sold in these rooms, 1st July 1975, lot 73. The decoration of the present example is discussed fully in the Graham and Oxley 1981 exhibition catalogue, cited above, and is attributed to Jefferyes Hamett O'Neale on the basis of the comparison study attempted by W. H. Tapp, Jefferyes Hamett O'Neale 1734-1801 Red Anchor Fable Painter and some contempories, 1938, in an effort to identify features characteristic of O'Neale's hand. A similar cattle scene appears on an octagonal Chelsea teapot illustrated by Stephen Hanscombe, Jefferyes Hamett O'Neale, China Painter and Illustrator, 2010, p. 60, no. 45.