Vigo County Historical Society

Historical Treasure Article

Historic Treasure of the Week - March 18, 1984
By LaVonne Waldron
Vigo County Historical Society

Grandmother cherished china tea pot

Accustomed as we are to tea bags and disposable cups, it's a bit difficult to appreciate the degree of convenience this tea ball pot offered the lady of the household in 1914.

A closer inspection of the lovely old blue and white tea pot on display in the Historical Museum of the Wabash Valley reveals it to be an ingenious and most practical item, produced and patented by Buffalo Pottery. Wear marks seems to indicate it was an often-used favorite, appreciated by its owner and handled with care.

It is vitrified china, decorated under the glaze with an attractive blue floral pattern and an argyle plaid border around the base.

A nickel silver and silver-plated tea ball is permanently suspended from the lid with a chain. Filled with tea leaves, it was lowered into the water for the tea to infuse, then raised and held in place by the clever mechanism when the brewing was complete. The lid lifts off, but is designed not to fall off when tea is poured.

This tea pot is marked with an illustration of a buffalo, "Buffalo Pottery" (the name of the manufacturer), "1914" (the date of manufacture), and "Argyle" (the pattern name).

The pot made six cups of tea and was offered for sale in the 1915-1916 Larkin Fall/Winter Catalog for two dollars. If premium credit was not desired by the customer, it could be purchased for one dollar.

Providing coupons that could be accumulated and exchanged for premiums was a wide spread merchandising custom and one that the Larkin Company of Buffalo, New York, used with great success. Their innovative use of premiums resulted in the rapid growth of the company.

Customers were attracted in such numbers that in 1901 the need for a dependable supply of quality items to be used as premiums led them to the founding of the Buffalo Pottery to produce dishes and other ceramic articles, both for premium use and general sale. The first kiln was fired in October of 1903 and the first offering of Buffalo Pottery appeared in the Larkin Catalog of 1904.

In subsequent years, Buffalo Pottery was destined to manufacture innumerable fine design in various patterns and wares. Almost without exception, these products are now sought by collectors and treasured by families who sentimentally kept them.

On a cold March afternoon, it is almost possible to picture Mother or Grandmother warming the tea pot with hot water, pouring it away and refilling the pot with fresh cold water brought to a rolling boil. The fragrant loose tea leaves would be measured into the tea ball, one teaspoonful for each cup, and perhaps, one for the pot. After it had brewed for three or five minutes, it would be served to family or a friend. Lump sugar, milk and occasionally lemon would be offered to create the perfect cup of tea. What a pleasant thought for a late winter afternoon.

The Historical Museum of the Wabash Valley , 1411 S. Sixth St., is open from 1 to 4 p.m. Sunday through Friday.