Burmese

Teapot, 8.5 inches tall. Brown transfer. Printed garter mark and impressed fouled anchor and rapier mark for Thomas Furnival & Sons. The pattern is the same on both sides of the teapot. An irregularly-shaped quadrangle encloses a profusion of blossoms, buds and leaves on a thick stem. This central shape is bordered on two sides by a continuous rope-like chain while the opposite corners contain a quarter shell-like form with frilly edges. The handle contains a different pattern altogether. Outside the central infilled quadrangle are delicate flowers which are repeated in the lid.

Following involvement in previous partnerships, from 1851 Jacob and Thomas Furnival became partners at J & T Furnival. As well as earthenware manufacturers, they were in business as Grinders of Potters’ Materials at Etruria Vale, in the borough of Hanley. In 1859 Jacob Furnival, Thomas Furnival, and Francis Joseph Emery applied for a patent for “Improvements in apparatus for supporting articles of china and earthenware in kilns and ovens.” In May 1864 the partnership between Jacob and Thomas Furnival was dissolved and the business was continued by Thomas Furnival. Around 1871, Thomas Furnival the younger joined the business which became Thomas Furnival and Son. In 1876, another son, Samuel Bourne Furnival joined the business, which became Thomas Furnival and Sons. Around 1883 the company found itself in financial difficulty with liabilities of £60,000 (around £5 million in 2020 terms). In 1884 there was a notice of “Liquidation by Agreement” which allowed the company to trade out of its difficulties. Thomas Furnival Sr. retired in 1890 and the business was continued by his sons Thomas, Samuel, and Arthur. The style of the business became Furnivals.