Featured c1841 Princess Royal Silver Teapot

Now that's interesting!
To my knowlegde there is no princess royal with those initials. However, both initials contain the same letters just in a different order JDW and JWD. I'll try to find anyone connected to the royal family with those initials.

 

Yes it’s strange that the letters are mixed up ! Thank you for looking ! The Princess Royal has a fascinating life it seems reading about her online !!

 

It's a lovely teapot, but have a hard time seeing it as a gift to Princess Victoria Adelaide Mary Louisa since the initials appear to be 'TDW". Seems unlikely that the Princess' monogram would be removed and replaced, and doubt that the other engraving is a later addition either, it fits well in the space, which differs in shape from the area with the Princess' garter, and it's not unusual to find different lettering styles in engraved personalizations - believe all the engraving was likely done at the same time.

The date of assay, which would be anywhere from May 29, 1841 to May 28, 1842, isn't necessarily when the piece was engraved, that could have been done virtually anytime after production - could have been a plain teapot in a dealer's inventory, or maybe the Godfather's household stash. The maker's mark is odd - to my eye, it looks like the 'JS' was a damaged punch with the remnants of something other than an 'A', and overstruck on the 'AS', and an odd round stamp on that 'S'. I also find the lid finial a bit simple and low, seems proportionally 'off', would expect something a bit fancier, perhaps even figural, something in keeping with the leaf motif where the handle joins the pot.

Personally, would be looking for another princess, and if found, without provenance, could only be an assumption...

~Cheryl

 

The bird of prey and poisonous snakes theme seems a bit strange.

 

Thank you for your thoughts , it really is a mystery !

 

Thank you , you’ve really made me think about the relevance of the engraving .
I think it’s a Phoenix and a Serpent .
Representing Christ and the Devil .
The Phoenix also represents Birth and longevity so I think this symbolism could fit with a Christening Piece .....

 

You never ask dumb questions, INH, you're too perceptive - a teapot seems a bit odd as a Christening gift to me as well. Certainly, just as it could have been engraved at any time, a Godfather could present a gift at any time in the recipient's lifetime...

~Cheryl

 

Exactly!

 

Monograms are typically done with the first letter of the last name being in the center. It is odd that on one side the engraving includes the monogram but on the other side the engraving is simply his initials, which are done in the same order as the names.
Beautiful piece!

 

I think it is possibly a Royal Christening commemorative teapot that has been bought and engraved for another child. The initials don’t seem to bear any resemblance to anyone involved in Princess Victoria’s christening in 1841

Be wonderful if it is connected but I can’t find any link.

 

Thank you for investigating John
Think I may still email the V&A just for interest .....!

 

That was my first thought, too. I’m interested to see what the V&A has to say. Such a lovely item!

 

Ahhhh thank you bluumz

 

Just to fill you in .
I had an email from the Curator of metalwork in the V&A and he thinks it is correct to assume that the teapot was given by the Duke of Sussex as a Christening Gift to the Princess Royal

 

Way Cool !!!!

 

I think you

I think you have got a good buy. Next stop, see what Sotheby's think it will achieve; but don't forget to include the V&A email.

 

Great news, Wendlekins, congratulations.

 

Excellent!
What do the JWD/JDW initials stand for then? The Duke of Sussex was Augustus Frederick.

 

He said the first letter is an F for Frederick !