A Chinese London-decorated teapot, cover and stand, circa 1755

painted by Jefferyes Hamett O'Neale, probably in the workshop of James Giles, the teapot of globular form, the stand of hexagonal form with a fluted and lobed rim, both painted with fable subjects and decorated with gilt formal borders at the rims, numerals 8 and 71 in iron-red enamel to the bases, two chips to cover.

Sotheby's, London, 13th September 1999, part lot 153
Acquired from Errol Manners, London, September 1999

Stephen Hanscombe, The Early James Giles and his Contemporary Decorators, 2008, published in conjunction with a loan exhibition at Stockspring Antiques, London, 5th-17th June, 2008, catalogue p. 118, fig. 17

To the cover: there is a flat shallow chip to the underside of the rim which measures 3.5cm wide, a second chip on the rim edge is 0.5cm wide. There are some scattered minute chips along the rim of the stand.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

The decoration on both pieces is taken from Samuel Croxall's 1722 working of The Fables of Aesop and Others. The enamel numerals on the bases of both the teapot and stand correlate to Croxall's illustrations. The stand illustrates number 71, The Angler and the little fish. The teapot number 8, The Stag looking into the Water. Whilst there is not a numeral for the reverse side of the teapot, the decoration has some similar composition qualities to number 28, The Old Hound, in which a distant stag is chased by three hounds. A further teapot and stand with fable decoration by O'Neale from the Shand Kydd collection is illustrated by Henry Sandon, Coffee Pots and Teapots, 1973, p. 56, pl. 64. For further reading on this form of decoration see Major W. H. Tapp's paper, 'The Chelsea Fable painter', E.C.C. Transactions, 1937, vol. 1, no. 4.