Cardew’s 2004 Limited Edition Christmas Tree Sells Out

It was a recently as November last year that Paul Cardew announced the launch of the one and only limited edition he produced in 2004. In February, this year Cardew were able to announce the limited edition of 50 pieces closed as number 50 sold to an eager collector. No mean feat given the hefty sales price of £450.

Why so much?

Well, the hefty price did purchase a “hefty” teapot.

For a start, it measured 15 inches (38 cms) in height from its sturdy base to the top of the 18ct gold lustred teapot on the top of the tree.

Furthermore, the tree was beautifully dressed in some rather unusual decorations and inhabited by a small population of rather Cheeky Chipmunks.

The inspiration for the decorations was that various teapot designs Cardew has produced as “Collectors Club Members Gifts” over the last ten years. These exclusive teapot designs ranged from “Alice in Wonderland Cardman” looking uncanningly like Paul Cardew through to a duck modelled on one of the feathery creatures that float around Lake Cardew down at the company’s Bovey Tracey base in Devon.

These members gifts have become very collectable in their own right as the production was always limited to the number of members in the Cardew Collectors Club.

For the Christmas Tree (which effectively celebrated the end of Cardew Club as it transformed into Cardewclub.com) the company had the bright idea of making each one of the collector’s gifts in miniature. Given the complexity of the designs, they did a fantastic job and they make very jolly Christmas decorations as well.

When you consider that in fact you got eleven teapots for the price of one, the craftsmanship involved and the fact that only 50 were produced, you begin to come round to the conclusion that the price was pretty good value.

Whilst Cardew announced the new pot in November, it was not until Cardew’s “Signing Day” on December 4th that it was finally unveiled for all to see.

On that day, Cardew also auctioned a special version of the tree, which was limited to an edition of one with the tree covered in snow and the collectors pieces decorated in white and gold. This treasure was in fact bought by none other than Sue Blazye who certainly knows a good thing when she sees one.

At the same time, the company announced that they were producing just 50 sets of the individual “tiny” collector gift teapots. Some decorated in full colour and some in gold and white.

If you are very quick, you can still find a few of these sets available on our on-line shop here at Cardewclub.com