Wedgwood Nantucket Bone China Teapot
Nantucket baskets were originally made in the mid-1800s by lightship keepers off the coast of the tiny island of Nantucket, Massachusetts, to earn extra income for their families. Today the tradition of making these baskets is still very much alive and carrying a handcrafted Nantucket basket is quite a status symbol among East Coasters who have visited or summer on the island. Wedgwood's Nantucket pattern captures the heritage of these baskets and the tastefulness of New England's upper crust in a simple yet lovely dinnerware collection. This charming, pure white, oval-shaped teapot holds 1.6 pints and is covered with an embossed basketweave pattern on its body and lid. The removable oval lid is topped with a darling clamshell finial and the sides of the teapot, in an authentic representation, feature embossed woven cane hinges and a cane loop and whalebone pin closure as can be found on the original baskets.As with many Wedgwood collections, this dinnerware is made of fine bone china, which gives this teapot a beautiful translucent sheen and makes it look quite thin and brittle. In spite of its delicate appearance, however, bone china is reinforced with 51-percent bone ash and is the strongest ceramic available. This modern-day china is safe for the microwave and dishwasher and is made in England with the same quality and care as earlier pieces from Wedgwood's 240 years of production. This teapot easily moves from casual meals to dressier affairs and coordinates with a variety of other dinner- and serveware pieces within the Nantucket collection.--Cristina Vaamonde