Can't ID this little teapot!

Just has a green apple with two flies on the bottom. There is a B in gold on both the underside of the lid and the rim of the teapot. I found it in a charity shop and was drawn to the birds and insects. I't's an odd wee thing. Anyone have any ideas?

 

Just a guess but Meissen ? Lovely little thing.

 

Not Meissen. I think 20th c, an homage to an earlier decoration style. Is it porcelain or pottery?

 

I have added a few more pics below. I have had a look at the only bit that isn't glazed which is the rim of the lid and having compared it using my loupe with a peice of fine bone china I am of the opinion it is earthenware as I was able to scratch it with a knife. I confess this is new to me as I'm mostly a coin and old furniture collector but I have certainly given myself an education over today in the differences of porcelain, fine bone and other ceramic types and techniques!

I am trawling charity shops mostly on the lookout for modern/vintage J and G Meakin dinnerware bits. I like building sets and love the 1960/1970 designs. I see things that I like and I seem to have an eye for quality as things I turn up usually end up being quite good and usually of good value but this one has me flummoxed. Things I like usually can be identified quite easily as quality finds its way online and a bit of research turns up the info. Can't find anything about this, I'm assuming the apple is a mark but perhaps it isn't? Just a decoration maybe?

Everything screams quality at me, there is detailed work in the gilding and the relief work, the variation of birds, insects and flowers all smack of someone demonstrating their talents but under the loupe it all looks quite worn slightly so I am convinced it has some age. It has never been used for tea though.

I guess I am mostly looking for reassurance that my eye has not let me down here.

 

Looks like a "Chelsea bird" variation. Pretty!

 

My guess is a Made in Japan globe-shaped imitation of this Chelsea bird pattern by Myott. But do wait for others to weigh in!

 

To tell whether it is porcelain or earthenware, hold the lid up to a light and see if it is translucent. If you can see light through it, it is porcelain, if not, it is earthenware (pottery, etc.).

Thanks for the extra photos. I am still of the opinion that it is copying the quality ware that you mentioned. There is a lot of crazing in the glaze. But it is a pretty piece. I wish I recognized the little apple and insect mark.

 

Someone correct me if Im off track,but I thought the apple was painted by the decorator of the piece,possibly covering the maker mark because it was a second ?

 

I thought the same, Johnny!

 

Decorators do cover the makers of their blanks, but not because the blanks are seconds. It's more that they want credit for their work. I can't tell from here if there is anything under the apple, but, as they always say, the maker of the blank is not important.

 

I don’t think the apple is covering up a makers mark. JMHO.

 

Sorry about the late reply. Been incredibly busy.

Definitely no makers mark under the apple. The apple is hand painted. I've been over it with a loupe and no sign of any marks anywhere.

 

I've been looking at the photos of your teapot again, the extra pics here appear a bit different to the ones I saw in the inkwell thread.
I still can't identify it, but could you maybe take an enlargement of the gilded surface around one of the small insect panels on the lid? Is the gilding brassy-looking at all? Does it lie flat or is it piled up? Any flaws or pitting that you can see?

 

Ok @Number 47

I think I may have found something ...

I now believe your teapot was made by Booths. I looked at a few of their teapots and noticed that Booths regularly used this gilt device on the spouts and sometimes on the handles:



Your teapot is also decorated with this same device on the inside of the spout.

Along with the fact that not all Booths wares are marked, the crazing is also quite common on the ware.

I also noticed that the same bud finial was a device used at Booths.

 

Thanks blooey. Sorry for the slow response. Added a daughter to my collection and been very, very busy.