Marked to the base with the initial SC and the date 1767, pictured below right, it is painted to one side with a view of St. Margaret's Church, Lowestoft and to the other with three sailing ships. The cover carries both subjects in miniature.
Unusual too was the method of repair to a substantial missing section (obscuring much of the maritime scene) that incorporated an associated shard of 18th century floral patterned blue and white porcelain covered with white clay. The teapot - consigned for sale at Hamptons of Godalming - is mentioned in a number of earlier reference works. Last sold at Sotheby's in 1961, it appears in an article titled Lowestoft China Teapots in the Antique Collector, dated December 1951 while the Frederick Arthur Crisp catalogue of 1907 mentions a teapot with the same painting, initials and date bought from Williams Rex Seago at Lowestoft on February 3 1896. The Crisp collection was sold in 1935.
On January 12, estimated at £1000-2000, it sold to a private buyer from London at £5400 (plus 15% buyer's premium).
