Lot 368 , A Tibetan copper and silver teapot, 19th century, H. 26.5cm

A Tibetan copper and silver teapot, 19th century, the silver boards embossed with the eight Buddhist emblems, plants and foliage, bequest no.50-31-15, H. 26.5cm
Estimate £200-300

Provenance - The Pestalozzi International Foundation collection of Tibetan thangkas, Buddhist figures and ritual objects.

In 1947, the British Pestalozzi Children's Village association was founded by Dr Henry Alexander - a German, Jewish, refugee who moved to the UK before the Second World War - and Mrs Mary Buchanan - a British sociologist. In 1959 the organisation opened a 170 acre property in Sedlescombe, East Sussex to house and educate children from displaced persons camps in Europe at the end of World War II.
In 1963, twenty-two Tibetan students, along with their house parents, arrived at the village. In 1967/68 saw the last of the European students at Pestalozzi and from that point students from Tibet, India and Nepal - amongst other countries - began to arrive. The Tibetan children and their house parents rescued Buddhist thangkas (paintings) and relics from the local temples during the upheavals of the 1960s which are included in this sale. The collection also includes Buddhist figures of deities from China, Burma and Thailand. The funds raised will help Pestalozzi to continue to offer educational scholarships to children from under-privileged countries.

The silver bands are tarnished and has a lot of white residue ingrained into them where they have used silver polish in the past, this should remove, the inner rim of the cover is dented in many places and the neck has been pushed down slightly at the front, there are some occasional dents and marks consistent with use, there is a metal braid which attaches to the top of the finial on the cover and to the handle which has snapped, there is an inventory number to the bottom of the teapot, apparently it was give to Pestalozzi from a museum collection in the 1960's, there is a white residue on the interior of the teapot which should come off, otherwise the copper has toned down to a nice chestnut brown colour.


Descriptions provided in both printed and on-line catalogue formats do not include condition reports. The absence of a condition statement does not imply that the lot is in perfect condition or completely free from wear and tear, imperfections or the effects of aging. Interested bidders are strongly encouraged to request a condition report on any lots upon which they intend to bid, prior to placing a bid. All transactions are governed by Gorringes Conditions of Sale.

Sold for £200