Minton's Victorian majolica department had a habit of turning perfectly sensible tableware into something a bit unhinged, and the fish teapot is a prime example. This one is a 1996 reissue from the Archive Collection, reproducing one of the firm's Victorian designs down to the last scale.
The fish rises from a base of vigorously moulded waves, its body shading from turquoise through sea green into deep cobalt, with scales, gills and fins picked out in crisp relief. A branch, naturalistic enough to look faintly alarming, issues from the fish's open mouth to form the spout and sweeps round the back as the handle, finished with a small yellow shell at the crown. The lid is the dorsal fin itself, which lifts away cleanly and makes rather more sense once you've seen it in person than it does described in a listing.
Minton's Staffordshire factory led the Victorian majolica trade, and its fantastical animal and novelty wares (birds, monkeys, fish, the occasional entirely improbable vegetable) remain some of the pieces collectors chase hardest today. This example, number 195 of a strictly limited edition of 2,500 produced for the Archive Collection, retains its original dark green Minton presentation box and numbered certificate of authenticity, which keeps it a step ahead of the many that have parted ways with theirs over the years. A good fit for anyone building a collection of Minton, majolica or novelty teapots, or just for anyone who has decided their teapot ought to have a personality.
Condition notes
Excellent vintage condition, minor wear to outside of box
