Miniature V&A Museum "Tournay" Teapot (Franklin Mint) 🇧🇪⚜️🐦

This is a Miniature Fine Porcelain Teapot from the 1985 Franklin Mint commemorative series, paying tribute to the elaborate 18th-century Tournay Porcelain style.

• Collaboration: A licensed piece from the Victoria and Albert Museum (V&A).

• Design Style: 18th-Century Grandeur, combining a Cobalt Blue Ground with Gold Lace overlay and Exotic Bird motifs.

2. Item Details & Design ✨🎨

The teapot is a visually rich reproduction of a sophisticated historical style:

• Shape: Smooth, round (globular) body.

• Decoration: Features three distinct decorative zones:

  1. Lower Body: Polychrome floral sprays (roses, violets).

  2. Central Motif: A highly detailed Exotic Bird pair perched on a branch.

  3. Upper Band/Lid: A wide band of deep Cobalt Blue (or underglaze blue) overlaid with intricate Gold Lace (a scrolling geometric gilt pattern).

• Gilding: Extensive gilding on the handle, spout rim, lid rim, and finial. The spout also features delicate gold scrollwork (gold vermiculation).

• Finial: Small round finial with gold detailing, possibly designed to look like a rose bud.

• Backstamp: Clearly marked "VICTORIA AND ALBERT MUSEUM Tournay FINE PORCELAIN © 1985 FRANKLIN MINT".

3. Historical/Period Context 🌏🕰️

• Period: 1985 (Modern Commemorative). Part of a limited series celebrating major European porcelain houses.

• Significance: The Tournay factory was highly successful in the 18th century, and its complex, opulent style is highly valued today. This reproduction captures the opulence of the Rococo period through its lavish use of cobalt and gold.

4. The Ideal Collector 💡🧐

This item is perfect for:

• Collectors of Franklin Mint Commemorative Porcelain and V&A Museum Editions.

• Enthusiasts of 18th-Century European Porcelain with highly decorative Bird and Botanical motifs.

• Buyers seeking Miniature Teapots with sophisticated gold and cobalt blue aesthetics.

5. Condition & Valuation 💎💰

• Condition: Excellent Vintage Condition. The porcelain, enamel, and colors are bright and intact. Crucially, the extensive gold gilding and gold lace overlay show no discernible rubbing or wear.

• Rarity: Moderate (Part of a limited-edition, licensed series).

• Valuation Strategy: Price is driven by the high complexity of the decoration, the excellent preservation of the gilding (Gold Lace), and the prestige of the Tournay/V&A provenance.