Expert: Martin G Roberts - 5/20/2008

Question
We have a very small teapot looking thing that as a child I thought was Alladin's lamp.  It has a mother of pearl cap shaped like the crown of England.  On the bottom it is stamped "Browdhead & Atkin" (as best as I can make out), "Sheffield"
"l566" (or possibly 1568), and "1".  There is a note inside written by my grandfather to the effect that the pot as been in our family for generations and brought to this country by my great, great grandfather in the early l800's.  Can you tell me anything about it?  Thanks

Answer
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Made in Sheffield, England, around 1840. Broadhead & Atkin (that is the correct spelling) were prolific makers - their wares are seen with some frequency. 1566 is the pattern number. 1 probably indicates the capacity: 1 cup, or half an Imperial pint.

Small teapots like this are called "bachelor" teapots by collectors.

Made of Britannia metal, a pewter alloy used in frabricating from sheet metal, rather than casting.

Martin
www.antique-metalware.co.uk