Treasured Teapot: Chintz in Bloom

Text by Katherine Cloninger Ellis • Photography by John O’Hagan

The wonderfully charming floral design of the antique Rose Time teapot by Lord Nelson is a lovely accoutrement to incorporate into a summer tea table.

In 1931, Lord Nelson Ware introduced the illustrations of Rose Time, just as colorful chintz began to become more prevalent with English potters. The beautiful adornment, a bright floral covering of the eponymous flower on a pale-yellow background, is applied to the china through transfer printing as opposed to traditional hand-painting, which aided in the mass production of the popular pattern. After nearly two decades, Elijah Cotton Ltd. of Staffordshire, England—the manufacturer of Lord Nelson—halted production on the beloved chintzware to the disappointment of many. The cheerful design of the teapot continues to be striking, even in 2022, and is a testament to the longevity of a classic floral motif.

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