Wedgwood Egyptian Teapot II
Turquoise Green Jasperware
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| Wedgwood Turquoise Jasper Miniature Teapot 1 |
1. The Egyptian Teapot — A Second-Generation Wedgwood Jasper Historical Miniature
Among Wedgwood's fascinating Jasperware creations, the Egyptian Teapot is one of the most distinctive designs in the historical miniature teapot tradition. The example presented in this article is particularly important because it belongs to the second generation of Wedgwood's Historical Small Teapot series, and its Jasperware body is distinctly Turquoise Green (#40E0D0). Its elegant rounded body, strongly geometric handle, gracefully curved spout, radiating fluted lid and elaborate white bas-relief band create a highly recognizable design. Although the design itself recalls the Egyptian-inspired decorative arts of the early nineteenth century, the second-generation miniature should be distinguished from the earlier first-generation version documented in Wedgwood's 1997 Jasper Miniature Teapot Collection.
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| Wedgwood Turquoise Jasper Miniature Teapot 2 |
2. An Important Discovery: Two Generations of the Egyptian Teapot
For collectors of Wedgwood Jasperware, the distinction between the first and second generations of the Egyptian Teapot is particularly important. The first-generation Egyptian Teapot, shown in the Wedgwood documentation preserved by Warewish, is a water-blue Jasperware example and forms part of the six-piece Jasper Miniature Teapot Collection documented as © Wedgwood 1997. Printed in England. The Egyptian Teapot presented in the first three photographs of this article is different. It represents the second-generation version, characterized by its vivid Turquoise Green (#40E0D0) Jasperware body. Therefore, the water-blue colour of the first generation should not be used to describe the second-generation example discussed in this article.
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| Wedgwood Turquoise Jasper Miniature Teapot 3 |
3. First Generation: The 1997 Jasper Miniature Teapot Collection
The first-generation Egyptian Teapot is documented in an original Wedgwood leaflet preserved by Warewish. The leaflet is titled The Jasper Miniature Teapot Collection and presents six miniature teapots inspired by historic shapes from the Wedgwood archives. The six designs shown are the Dancing Hours Teapot, Icarus Teapot, Ulysses Teapot, Garland Teapot, Domestic Employment Teapot, and Egyptian Teapot. The leaflet explicitly carries the statement “© Wedgwood 1997. Printed in England.” In this first-generation collection, the Egyptian Teapot is shown in a water-blue Jasperware colour, providing an important visual reference when comparing it with the later second-generation example.
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| Wedgwood Turquoise Jasper Miniature Teapot 4 |
4. Second Generation: The Turquoise Green Egyptian Teapot
The Egyptian Teapot shown in the first three photographs of this article belongs to the second generation. Its most immediately recognizable difference is the colour of the Jasperware body. Instead of the water-blue Jasperware seen in the first-generation 1997 example, this second-generation teapot features a striking Turquoise Green (#40E0D0) body. The colour has a vivid blue-green appearance and a strong turquoise character. In the Warewish photographs, this colour is particularly apparent under the lighting used for the original photography. For this article, Turquoise Green (#40E0D0) is therefore used as the visual colour reference for the second-generation Egyptian Teapot.
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| Wedgwood Turquoise Jasper Miniature Teapot 5 |
5. The Difference Between the Two Generations
The most important visual distinction between the two generations is therefore the Jasperware colour. The first-generation Egyptian Teapot is water blue, as documented by the 1997 Wedgwood miniature collection leaflet. The second-generation Egyptian Teapot is Turquoise Green (#40E0D0), as demonstrated by the actual Warewish example shown in the first three photographs. This distinction should be retained when cataloguing, photographing or discussing the two versions. The two examples share the same fundamental Egyptian-inspired historical concept, but their colour treatment clearly provides an important visual marker for distinguishing the generations.
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| Wedgwood Turquoise Jasper Miniature Teapot 6 |
6. The Historical Inspiration: Egyptian Revival
The historical inspiration of the Egyptian Teapot can be associated with the strong fascination with ancient Egypt that developed in European decorative arts around the turn of the nineteenth century. A particularly significant event was the Battle of the Nile in 1798, when Admiral Horatio Nelson's British fleet defeated the French fleet at Aboukir Bay. The event attracted enormous public attention and contributed to a renewed European interest in Egypt and ancient Egyptian culture. Egyptian-inspired motifs subsequently appeared in architecture, furniture, interior decoration, metalwork and ceramics. This wider cultural movement became associated with what is now known as the Egyptian Revival, and its influence can be seen in numerous decorative arts of the period.
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| Wedgwood First Six Jasper Miniature Teapot Collection |
7. Egyptian Influence and Wedgwood
Wedgwood had a long-standing fascination with classical antiquity, archaeology and historical decorative themes. Rather than simply reproducing ancient objects, Wedgwood designers often transformed historical subjects into refined ceramic forms suited to contemporary European taste. The Egyptian Teapot can therefore be understood as an example of this broader design philosophy. Its Egyptian character is not simply a literal archaeological reproduction; instead, historical Egyptian inspiration has been interpreted through Wedgwood's own vocabulary of ceramic form, proportion and relief decoration.
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| Wedgwood Turquoise Jasper Miniature Teapot 7 |
8. A Historical Design Recreated as a Miniature
The concept behind Wedgwood's Historical Small Teapot series was to select representative historical teapot forms and reinterpret them as miniature objects. The resulting pieces allow collectors to appreciate the essential characteristics of historic teapot design in a much smaller format. The Egyptian Teapot is particularly successful in this respect because its distinctive silhouette remains immediately recognizable even at miniature scale. The body, spout, handle and lid have all been carefully integrated so that the overall identity of the historical design remains intact.
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| Wedgwood Turquoise Jasper Miniature Teapot 8 |
9. The Turquoise Green Jasperware
The Turquoise Green Jasperware body is the defining visual feature of the second-generation Egyptian Teapot. The colour produces a strong blue-green impression that is substantially different from the water-blue appearance of the first-generation version. Against this saturated background, the white applied bas-relief becomes exceptionally prominent. The colour contrast also enhances the three-dimensional character of the relief, because the raised white decoration casts subtle shadows onto the green Jasperware surface. The result is a harmonious combination of colour, texture and relief.
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| Wedgwood Turquoise Jasper Miniature Teapot 9 |
10. Why #40E0D0 Is Used Here
For clarity, the colour reference #40E0D0 used in this article is a visual digital reference for the Turquoise Green appearance of the second-generation Warewish example. It is not presented as an official Wedgwood factory colour code. This distinction is important because historic ceramic colours can vary according to lighting, photography, surface condition and digital display. The purpose of #40E0D0 is simply to communicate as precisely as possible the characteristic Turquoise Green appearance visible in the first three photographs supplied by Warewish.
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| Wedgwood Turquoise Jasper Miniature Teapot A |
11. The Distinctive Geometric Handle
The handle is one of the most immediately recognizable features of the Egyptian Teapot. Instead of using a conventional rounded loop, the design employs a strong geometric structure with a broad rectangular opening and relatively straight architectural lines. This angular handle creates a striking contrast with the rounded body. The juxtaposition of the curved vessel and geometric handle gives the teapot a sophisticated visual character and reinforces its Egyptian-inspired appearance.
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| Wedgwood Turquoise Jasper Miniature Teapot B |
12. The Graceful Curved Spout
In contrast to the geometric handle, the spout is dominated by graceful curves. It rises from the body and extends outward in a smooth, controlled sweep. The shape provides a visual counterbalance to the strong straight lines of the handle. Together, the spout and handle establish the main horizontal silhouette of the miniature, while the rounded body forms its central mass. This careful balance is particularly impressive considering the small scale of the object.
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| Wedgwood Turquoise Jasper Miniature Teapot C |
13. The Radiating Fluted Lid
The lid is another highly refined feature. Its surface is decorated with numerous radiating flutes extending outward from the centre, producing a delicate sunburst-like rhythm. The central finial is broad and smoothly rounded, creating a pleasing contrast with the linear rhythm of the fluted surface. This combination of radial decoration and rounded geometry gives the lid a strong visual identity and demonstrates the attention to detail retained even at miniature scale.
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| Wedgwood Turquoise Jasper Miniature Teapot D |
14. The White Bas-Relief Band
The elaborate white relief band surrounding the middle of the body is perhaps the most visually impressive decorative feature. Repeated geometric frameworks incorporate floral and quatrefoil-like forms, creating an intricate interlaced pattern. The white relief stands prominently against the Turquoise Green Jasperware background, making the decoration appear almost lace-like from a distance. At close range, however, the physical depth of the relief becomes apparent, revealing the characteristic three-dimensional quality of Wedgwood Jasperware decoration.
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| Wedgwood Turquoise Jasper Miniature Teapot E |
15. The Lower Geometric Decoration
The lower part of the body also contains geometric decorative elements that become particularly visible from the upper and rear views. This detail is important because it demonstrates that the decorative treatment extends beyond the central relief band. The designer carefully distributed ornament across the vessel, creating a visual relationship between the fluted lid, central white relief and lower geometric decoration. The result is a more complete decorative composition when the teapot is viewed from different angles.
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| Wedgwood Taupe and Turquoise Jasper Miniature Teapots 1 |
16. The Balance Between Curves and Geometry
One of the most sophisticated characteristics of this design is its balance between curved and geometric forms. The body is rounded, the spout is gracefully curved, and the lid is circular with radial decoration. In contrast, the handle is dominated by straight lines and rectangular geometry, while the relief band introduces repeated geometric frameworks. These contrasting forms are not accidental; together they create a carefully controlled visual rhythm that gives the Egyptian Teapot its distinctive character.
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| Wedgwood Taupe and Turquoise Jasper Miniature Teapots 2 |
17. The Art of Wedgwood Jasperware Relief
The Egyptian Teapot is an excellent demonstration of why Jasperware is so closely associated with relief decoration. The coloured Jasperware body acts as a controlled background, while the white applied relief creates the principal decorative imagery. Because the decoration is physically raised from the surface, it interacts naturally with light and shadow. This gives the miniature a level of visual depth that could not be achieved through flat painted decoration alone. The second-generation Turquoise Green body is especially effective because its strong colour contrast makes the white relief exceptionally clear.
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| Wedgwood Taupe and Turquoise Jasper Miniature Teapots 3 |
18. A Collector's Comparison: First Generation vs. Second Generation
For collectors, the comparison can be summarized clearly. The first-generation Egyptian Teapot, documented in the Wedgwood 1997 leaflet, is a water-blue Jasperware miniature belonging to the original six-piece Jasper Miniature Teapot Collection. The second-generation Egyptian Teapot, represented by the Warewish example shown here, is characterized by its Turquoise Green (#40E0D0) Jasperware body. The first-generation leaflet therefore serves as valuable documentary evidence for the earlier version, while the first three photographs in this article document the appearance of the later second-generation example. Keeping these two versions separate is essential for accurate collecting records.
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| Wedgwood Taupe and Turquoise Jasper Miniature Teapots 4 |
19. Dimensions of the Warewish Second-Generation Example
The second-generation Egyptian Teapot in the Warewish Collection measures approximately 4.5 cm in lid diameter, 11.0 cm in overall length from the spout to the handle, and 9.0 cm in overall height including the lid. Despite its compact dimensions, the miniature retains the essential structure of a complete teapot, including the body, spout, handle and removable lid. The carefully maintained proportions allow the object to function visually as a true miniature interpretation of a historical teapot.
Standard Color: Wedgwood Turquoise｜標準顏色: 土耳其綠
Authentic Wedgwood Turquoise Color Profile:
Related articles about the Wedgwood Historical Teapot:
- Wedgwood Historical Small Teapot 01: The Garland Teapot
- Wedgwood Historical Small Teapot 02: The Icarus Teapot
- Wedgwood Historical Small Teapot 03: The Ulysses Teapot
- Wedgwood Historical Small Teapot 04: The Egyptian Teapot
- Wedgwood Historical Small Teapot 05: The Georgian Teapot
- Wedgwood Historical Small Teapot 06: The Dancing Hours Teapot
- Wedgwood Historical Small Teapot 01 to 06
- Wedgwood Historical Small Teapot 07: The Ulysses Teapot in Taupe Jasperware
[Photo Gallery] Photos of the "Wedgwood Historical Small Teapot 08: The Egyptian Teapot — Second Generation" taken by Warewish at his home in Taiwan, Warewish Collection, August 25, 2009.
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