Casgliadau Arlein

Teapot, black basalt, oblong form with straight-sided foot-rim foot-rim, bulbous sides sloping inwards at the shoulder, raised lip-rim rising up into a wide lobe forming a guard over the spout, curving spout modelled in the form of a lion-like creature with open mouth and flowing mane, high loop handle modelled in the form of a serpent, the head forming the upper terminal, raised scale-like moulding along the length of handle, oblong domed cover moulded with fluting to the top and a raised looping ribbon below, to the centre of the cover a finial modelled in the form of a bouquet of flowers, a pierced steam hole to one side, to one side of the exterior body of the teapot a raised panel moulded with a scene showing the figure of Britannia crowning the head and shoulders bust of a male figure in military uniform with a winged figure blowing a trumpet to one side, the inscription "VIRESQUE / ACQUIRIT / EUNDO" is impressed on the plinth on which the bust stands, the inscription "WELLINGTON" is impressed on a scrolling banner below the scene, to the other side of the body a raised panel impressed with the inscription "India / Portugal & Spain / VITTORIA 21ST JUNE / 1813" enclosed by a ribbon-tied wreath of foliage, both panels flanked by raised moulded foli\te motifs, to the shoulder a raised moulded border of a wreath of foliage; left unglazed.