These cookies are absolutely essential for our website to function properly.
We use Google Analytics to measure how you use the website so we can improve it based on user needs.
These cookies may be set by third party websites and do things like measure how you view YouTube videos.
Amgueddfa Cymru – Museum Wales
Teapot, oblong, the four sides slightly convex and concave shoulders. Standing on a spreading square foot on four ball feet. Applied with a simple curved spout; the angular handle issues from two sockets. The hinged lid is domed and surmounted by a flat, rectangular finial. Vermillion japan, decorated with a continuous band of ornamental circles and wavy lines painted in silver, black and red. The lid with star in silver radiating from finial. The application of a clear varnish has resulted in a golden tinged surface appearance.
The Allgood family began making japanned ware in Pontypool around 1730. In 1763, a family dispute led to Thomas and Edward Allgood setting up a rival business in Usk. The new factory was in New Market Street next to the George Inn. The competition between the Pontypool and Usk establishments was played out in the press, each side claiming superiority in advertisements. In the Bristol Journal of Saturday 6 August 1763 the Pontypool factory challenged the Usk Allgoods to a £50 wager, the winner to be the factory whose products experts would judge best. The Usk Allgoods refused, describing their rivals as 'these mere beginners...like some cunning raw stripling challenging some noted hero.'
