Bronze Age Gold from Wales

Coffee pot, waisted baluster body on spreading circular foot and inverted base. Applied with simple angular strap handle covered with wicker. The hinged lid is conical and stepped and surmounted by a knopped finial. Dark brown tortoiseshell japan. Decorated with scattered floral ornament with birds and insects, all in silver. Additional plain and wavy bands, silver. The application of a clear varnish has resulted in a golden tinged surface appearance.

In 1756 Dr Pococke, Bishop of Meath visited the Allgood family's japanware workshop in Pontypool. He noted, 'they make salvers and candlesticks and many other things which they japan; I am told that the light parts of this in imitation of tortoise shell is done with silver leaf. They adorn them with Chinese landscapes and figures in gold only, and not with colouring as at Birmingham. This ware is much better than the Birmingham but is dear, there being only two brothers and their children who make it and kept it a secret. They will also japan copper boxes, or anything made in copper which they cannot well work in iron'.