A rare Worcester armorial teapot and cover, circa 1758-60

of pear form, affixed with a faceted spout and loop handle, printed in black by Robert Hancock and painted in orange-red and gold with the arms of Marke of Liskeard and the motto 'PAR SIT FORTUNA LABORI', the reverse printed with a bust-length portrait of the King of Prussia (version no. 3), inscribed R Hancock fecit Worcester half hidden in the ribbon and further with R H Worcester and the anchor rebus of Richard Holdship, the shallow domed cover with a flower finial, minor chips.

The Anthony Tuke Collection
Acquired from Albert Amor Ltd., London, March 2001

London, Albert Amor Ltd., The Engravings of Robert Hancock, 1991, illustrated in the exhibition catalogue, p. 28 and pl. 66
London, Albert Amor Ltd., A Celebration - 250 Years of Worcester Porcelain' , 2001, illustrated in the exhibition catalogue, p. 14, pl. 16

H. Rissik Marshall, 'Armorial Worcester of the First Period', E.C.C. Transactions, 1946, vol. 2, no. 9, p. 212 and pl. LXVIId.
Colin Hanley, 'A Teapot Bearing the Arms of Marke of Liskeard', N.C.S Newsletter no. 149, 2007, p. 24-32.

Small shallow chip to cover. Minor nicks to flower finial. Small chip to tip of spout.
"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 teapot is part of a service made for the Marke family of Liskard and subsequently of Woodhill in Cornwall. The Hancock print of Frederick the Great, King of Prussia, on the reverse of the teapot is the rarest of the three by him after Richard Houston's engraving of Antoine Pesne's portrait. For a full discussion of this teapot see Colin Hanley's N.C.S article, cited above.