Polychrome transferware from the 1920s — a technique so labor-intensive it was abandoned within a decade.
Polychrome transferware — scenic designs hand-colored underglaze in multiple translucent hues — was expensive, time-consuming, and discontinued by the 1930s in favor of single-color processes. Which makes this Brown & Richie teapot from the 1920s–1930s genuinely rare. The Oriental Gardens pattern (a polychrome variation on the beloved Blue Willow) wraps all the way around the pot in translucent pink, green, yellow, and blue, atop an earthenware body with a wire handle and three small feet. No backstamp, but retains its original "Made in Japan" sticker. Crazing throughout and some discoloration on the sides — both entirely characteristic of early 20th-century pottery glaze and age. Holds 3 cups.
A dream piece for a Blue Willow collector looking to add a rare variation, or any lover of early transferware and Chinoiserie.
