Linderhof


Gardening, Cooking and Decorating on the Prairie of Kansas


Welcome to Linderhof, our 1920's home on the prairie, where there's usually something in the oven, flowers in the garden for tabletops and herbs in the garden for cooking. Where, when company comes, the teapot is always on and there are cookies and cakes to share in the larder.

Friday, May 8, 2015

Of Teapots and Treasures . . .

Friend Shirley Ann and I were out and about yesterday.
Visiting some of our favorite haunts in her little town
And this old teapot came home with me



It's white with gold trim
And it was $5.00
And it looked to me to be very very old

Now, I don't really collect teapots!
But I do have a few!
And I use them!

It joins


This lovely pot
Also white with gold trim
Made from Old Paris porcelain
Most Old Paris was made from 1850 to 1870
And I date this tea pot to around the Civil War
Perhaps around the time that our Fort got decommissioned!

And it's not just a teapot
But a cream and sugar
And tea cups and saucers (those lovely deep saucers)
And breakfast cups and saucers (again, lovely deep saucers)
And a few plates and an odd big bowl!

I found it here -- in our little town
For a reasonable sum
And ever since I visited Natchez and heard about "Old Paris", I've wanted to own some.
And was so glad to find such a lovely set!

And this little pot


In my beloved blue and white.
It came with a creamer and sugar
and I found it at an Estate Sale in Independence
In a very old house that I longed admired
Admired since childhood, actually!

This pot is a common pattern (and I have a couple of salad plates in this pattern as well, picked up here and there) that dates to the early 19th century.

I couldn't believe my luck that this teapot, creamer and sugar were so reasonably priced and still there!


My three old teapots lined up on the dining room table
Notice the new pot and the blue and white one are similar in shape
While the "later" one -- the Old Paris is a different shape -- more round without the "angles" of the other two.

But what makes this teapot, the new one
So special
Is what I found inside . . .


This note: which reads:

Samuel Eddy married June 1777
Great grandfather Eddy's
Wedding china
                  222 years
December 1949

It's written on back of an envelope with a 2 cent stamp
(which would indicate that it was, indeed, written in 1949)
addressed to:

Mr. and Mrs. Frank Eddy
Potter's Hatchery
Girard, Kansas

Now, I do hope Mr. Frank Eddy was better at raising chickens that he was in math for 1777 to 1949 is not 222 years!   but rather 172 years!
However, in 2015, it is over 222 years -- in fact, 238 years since
Samuel Eddy married and received this teapot as a wedding gift!

Now, I do know that family history can get confusing 
And stories passed down are not always the truth.
I've looked on line to see what I could find as to
typical china shapes during the Revolutionary War
but couldn't really find anything.

Due to the fact that this teapot and the blue and white one which I know dates to the first part of the 19th century are so similar, I am wondering, perhaps, if it was made later
And was a 25th Wedding Anniversary gift and not the wedding china!

I do know one thing -- it is definitely old!

But whether it does, indeed date to the Revolutionary War
or is a bit later,
that note, penned by Mr. Frank will remain with the teapot
as long as I'm it's custodian.

Will I drink tea out of it?

I'm not sure

But it is a treasure of Linderhof!

9 comments:

Thickethouse.wordpress said...

Oh, my, you did indeed find a treasure for your home. And I know that you are just the person to "treasure" it!

marilyn r said...

What beautiful teapots! If you are thinking about actually using them, I would suggest first examining them for crazing. If they are crazed, don't get them wet. If they are not crazed, try putting water in them to be sure they will hold water. If so, then you're good to go!

Martha said...

Thank you Marilyn -- I did not know that about the crazing. I have used the Old Paris one several times -- I like it and it gives me more of a connection to our little town which was founded about the time of that pot!

ellen b said...

How very cool that you have that note! Love the shapes of these tea pots!

Beth said...

You new teapot and its history are wonderful! I love the teapot and I enjoyed this post. Happy Mother's Day!

Bookie said...

What a great find and at a bargain price too!!! So enjoyed this post and pictures. I would love any of those tea pots. The connection to Potter's Hatchery was interesting as there were many in SE Kansas although I did not know of one in Girard. There was big operation in Chanute. When we moved to this Missouri town, a girl around the corner was a Potter...from the Chanute ones. And Hubby had a Mrs. Potter as a grade school teacher in Stark, Kansas. Small world it seems.

Canadian Chickadee said...

What fun! That's one of the things I love about antiques - the stories. If you can't find out the real history (as you were able to do), you can always dream up your own story! xoxox

Gina @ VictorianWannaBe said...

Hi Martha,
What a great find and a great price! The teapots all look so good together. The note you have is neat too.
My daughter and I went to Leawood yesterday, on the way back we stopped at the antique mall on Noland Road, didn't buy anything though, but I did see some nice things.
Happy Mother's Day to you.
Gina

megan said...

What a lovely find Martha. I love mysteries and would be anxious to find out more about the family, too.