Childs Red Spongeware Spatter Ware

4pc Tea Set

Charles Allerton and Sons

Staffordshire, England c1890

This miniature toy sponge ware or spatter ware tea set, circa 1890, was originally part of a complete child’s tea set, made for children's teatime play or for a dollhouse. The color is abrilliant ruby red.

The set includes a lidded teapot standing 5-1/4 inches tall, lidded sugar or biscuit jar standing 4-1/2 inches tall, creamer or milk jug standing 3-1/2 inches tall and a waste bowl or dregs pot standing 2-1/2 inches tall. The set was abundantly decorated by hand with applied sponged or spatter decoration, a great example of the folk art craft. It was made by Charles Allerton and Sons, a pottery in the Staffordshire district of England, known for its whimsical children's tea sets. The set is marked "Staffordshire England".

The set is in great condition, especially considering its age and use by generations of children. The waste bowl has a stilt mark on the foot, there is a spoon ding inside the rim of the biscuit jar and no chips cracks or repairs.  The set was hand decorated, so there is variation in the application of the sponging adding to the unique naïve charm of these hand decorated wares. The workmanship is haphazard, which is one of the reasons many people collect it...not fine china, and not meant to be; it was made for children and probably considered disposable. Runny glaze and little bumps and dips and glazed over edge frits original to the making. The naïve and hasty style adds to the folksy charm. A gorgeous set, sold as shown, as is.

Richly detailed, it is just amazing that this set belonged to a child well over 100 years ago!

Children’s or doll sized sponge ware tea sets of this quality are quite scarce, and highly sought after, particularly in this wonderful color.

Please send us an message if you have any questions or would like to see additional photos. Thank you for bidding!

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