Silver-plated ‘Karawan’ teapot by Mariage Frères

This charming ‘Karawan’ teapot was made by the prestigious Paris-based tea company Mariage Frères founded in 1854, as is indicated in the inscription on the piece’s base. Its very original design is modelled as a seated camel with a male figure tying a pack to its hump.

The camel’s neck forms the spout, and the handle is modelled as the man’s body, with the camel’s hump forming the hinged cover. All crafted in silver plate, the piece is topped by a lid featuring a rope-shaped handle. The camel and male figures are carefully detailed, with small engravings conveying different textures, such as the camel’s hair. The male figure’s garments are also masterfully detailed.

This teapot design was produced based on a glazed and gilded earthenware model made in c.1875 by the Moore Bros which is currently exhibited at the Victoria and Albert Museum in London after being transferred from the Museum of Practical Geology. Camel shapes were a popular choice for teapot makers from the eighteenth century, marking the beginning of exotic influences on European ceramics.

The present piece draws inspiration from the revival of such interest in Oriental subjects and motifs in the 1870s. Representing Western ideas of the Orient as an immutable land of adventure, exoticism, and mystery, the enchanting teapot was popular during a period of great change in Europe.

This teapot is a humorous and charming addition to any home’s drinkware collection