Carlton Ware ‘Red Baron’ Novelty Tea Pot c.1960s

This is a highly attractive collectible teapot from a range produced by Carlton Ware in the 1960s.

The teapot is moulded to look like a stylised bi-winged plane, with a pair of protruding wings on either side of the bulbous red body. The wings are decorated with a stylised German iron cross. This sits on a pair of stylised wheels with black tyres. The front of the plane is moulded with a stylised black propeller which also acts as the pouring spout. Either side of this are the transfer printed words ‘RED BARON’ above three stylised planes. The back of the plane is drawn out to form the handle.

The lid is moulded to form a stylised pilot in black and white, with detail being given to the flying scarf, goggles and facial features.

The ‘Red Baron’ was the nickname given to the flying ace Manfred Von Richthofen during his time serving the Imperial German Army Air Service during the First World War. Richthofen had the title of Freiherr which roughly translated as ‘baron’ and when he had his then victorious plane painted red, hence the nickname ‘The Red Baron’. He is more commonly known for flying a Fokker Dr. I tri-plane, although the teapot looks more like it was based on the Albatross D.II or D.III bi-plane which he also used.

The base is white and marked with the words ‘CARLTON WARE MADE IN ENGLAND “TRADE MARK”’ In addition it is impressed to one side with the numbers ‘3543’, although these are not easily discernible.

The teapot has a maximum height (including the lid) of approximately 13.5cm, with a maximum length from spout to handle of 21.5cm and a maximum width of about 18.5cm.

It is in excellent condition, with no chips or cracks, although there is one small manufacturing artefact on the interior of the lid (see pictures). This appears to be a ‘chip’, although it has been glazed over, which would suggest this happened during manufacture and would therefore not be classed as damage.