The shades of drabware can vary in coloration from vessel to vessel depending on when each piece was made, and by which pottery works in England produced it. For the past eighteen years or so, I have slowly but surely been assembling a very modest collection of drabware for my home. It's a collection that I started because I fell in love with this type of china the moment I first laid eyes on it. You've heard me say that this china isn't for everyone. Whether you find drabware appealing or appalling, I think it's worth taking a second look at a few examples.
What's nice about antique drabware is that it isn't confined exclusively to Wedgwood. Other British pottery works, such as Spode and Ridgway, produced their very own versions of drabware beginning in the early part of the nineteenth century. Some of the pitchers, jugs, mugs, cups, teapots, sugar bowls, among other pieces, were heavily molded with intricate detailing, while others were hand painted with pink or blue flowers, or were bat printed in black and given gilded rims.
It is the earlier pieces that so many of us find desirable because of the quality of craftsmanship and because of the rarity of some examples. As a result, the earlier the piece, the more expensive it will undoubtedly be for the collector. It's not unheard of to pay hundreds of dollars for one dessert plate or over one thousand dollars for a teapot.
It is the earlier pieces that so many of us find desirable because of the quality of craftsmanship and because of the rarity of some examples. As a result, the earlier the piece, the more expensive it will undoubtedly be for the collector. It's not unheard of to pay hundreds of dollars for one dessert plate or over one thousand dollars for a teapot.
As I was cleaning and dusting some of my cherished pieces, I realized that I had never really talked about the varied tones of antique drabware. The photo above was given a faded filter in order to accentuate the tones of my pieces.
Most of us assume that drabware is one shade and one shade only. That is not entirely true. Drabware can be described by many as being khaki, taupe, beige, tan or even brown. The photo above demonstrates what I'm referring to. The Spode footed teapot from ca. 1820 is a rich silt color with hints of gray, while the Wedgwood teapot from ca. 2000 and the Tiffany & Co Wedgwood dinner plate are more the color of a light cafe au lait. The Spode ca. 1810 teacups and saucers remind me of the color mink, while the Wedgwood ca. 1820 dessert plate and serving dish are more of a sumptuous millet color with suggestions of honey. Every one of these pieces is the exact color of the clay that was used to produce it at that particular time. Only a clear glaze and/or gilding was applied before firing. On some hollowware pieces (such as my Spode cups), however, a white or pale blue glaze was applied to the interiors. Although mismatched in coloration, the neutrals pair well with one another.
Most of us assume that drabware is one shade and one shade only. That is not entirely true. Drabware can be described by many as being khaki, taupe, beige, tan or even brown. The photo above demonstrates what I'm referring to. The Spode footed teapot from ca. 1820 is a rich silt color with hints of gray, while the Wedgwood teapot from ca. 2000 and the Tiffany & Co Wedgwood dinner plate are more the color of a light cafe au lait. The Spode ca. 1810 teacups and saucers remind me of the color mink, while the Wedgwood ca. 1820 dessert plate and serving dish are more of a sumptuous millet color with suggestions of honey. Every one of these pieces is the exact color of the clay that was used to produce it at that particular time. Only a clear glaze and/or gilding was applied before firing. On some hollowware pieces (such as my Spode cups), however, a white or pale blue glaze was applied to the interiors. Although mismatched in coloration, the neutrals pair well with one another.
This particular footed teapot is one of my prized antiques. It is a fine piece of china that was produced in Stoke-on-Trent, England, by the Spode pottery works back in 1820. What I love about the teapot is the unusually-shaped handle and lid, as well as the accented gilding found throughout the body of the vessel. It's been such a pleasure to use this piece.
Whether it's Spode or Wedgwood drabware, I know that I'm in good company whenever I want to set a nice table for tea or dessert. Sometimes I use the two hundred year old china, and sometimes I use the newer pieces. Other times, I combine the two.
If you like neutral colors in your home, starting a collection of drabware may very well suit your tastes. Part of the fun of collecting this type of china is the thrill of the hunt. By no means will you find everything through online auctions.
Antique dealers and designers in the business can be your best avenues for finding what you're looking for, especially when it comes to rare pieces. If you have an existing collection of drabware, enjoy it for years to come and do take good care of it for future generations.
Antique dealers and designers in the business can be your best avenues for finding what you're looking for, especially when it comes to rare pieces. If you have an existing collection of drabware, enjoy it for years to come and do take good care of it for future generations.
This was really informative, David. And your collection is enviable, to say the least. How could anyone NOT like drabware? :-)
ReplyDeleteThank you, Andrew!! :)
ReplyDeleteAs a fellow collector of drabware (330+ and counting) I am interested to know more about the footed teapot (coffee pot) which you describe as Spode. It is not a Spode shape therefore are there any factory marks on the base or any reason why you attribute it to Spode?
ReplyDeleteThe only reason I attribute this teapot to Spode is because the antique dealer in England had it marked as such. The teapot itself has no hallmarks, so there isn't a 100% certainty that it is Spode. I wish the teapot had a provenance or a hallmark, but alas it does not.
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