Royal Albert “Old English Rose” Large Bone China Teapot (6–8 Cups), c. 1950s–60s
A pot of tea for six or eight is an invitation as much as a teapot.
Royal Albert’s “Old English Rose” became one of the best-loved English rose patterns of the twentieth century, and it was made in a full range of teaware for the tea tables of Britain and the Commonwealth. This large teapot carries the green crown backstamp with the pattern name in pink, a mark consistent with production in the 1950s and 1960s.
The lobed white body is circled at the shoulder by a garland of pink and deep red cabbage roses with fresh green leaves, repeated around the lid. The rim is scalloped and edged in a broad gilt band, and the lid rises to a flower-shaped knop finished in hand-brushed gilding. Gilt scrolls pick out the curved spout and the scrolling handle. At six to eight cups, it is the size for a proper afternoon tea.
This is a first-quality piece, with no seconds mark through the backstamp. The teapot is free of chips, cracks, crazing and restoration. There are minimal surface marks, minor gilding loss on the handle and spout, a small, hardly noticeable scuff on the side of the body, and a slight colour rub on the interior, all shown in the photographs.
Key Details
- Maker: Royal Albert, England
- Pattern: Old English Rose
- Marks: green crown backstamp, “Royal Albert Bone China England”, with the pattern name; first quality
- Period: c. 1950s–1960s
- Material: bone china
- Capacity: 6–8 cups
- Dimensions: height 14.5 cm; length 24 cm (spout to handle)
- Weight: 749 g
- Condition: no chips, cracks, crazing or restoration; minor gilding loss to handle and spout; small scuff to the side; slight interior colour rub
- Buyer profile: collectors of Royal Albert and Old English Rose; anyone who enjoys a full afternoon tea
Collector Appeal
Old English Rose is a familiar and enduring Royal Albert rose pattern, and the large teapot is the centrepiece of any set. This one comes from the period of the green crown backstamp and remains a first-quality piece.
Other 'Old English Rose' pieces from the shop: trio, cake plate, open sugar bowl, milk jug and 21-piece tea set.
Made for a full table, and a second cup for everyone.
