Cardew Club News » 2006 » November

A limited edition set of Fred Dibnah ceramic figures have sparked a bidding war among collectors.
Fans have been queueing up to get their hands on the first in a series of four ceramic figurines and teapots depicting the legendary Bolton steeplejack.

The limited edition sold out in hours.

The eight-inch earthenware figures have been designed by Lorna Bailey, a ceramic artist from Stoke-on-Trent, with a percentage of the profits going to the Fred Dibnah Memorial Fund Appeal.

Lorna’s father, Lionel, a life-long fan of Fred’s approached his widow Sheila with the idea for the collection.

Most of us have a favorite artist, be it Henri Matisse or Georgia O’Keeffe — but how many of us have a teapot with our favorite artist’s likeness in 3-D?

Susan Sloan, 32, of Charlotte has just such a teapot. This whimsical object depicts the face of Marc Chagall as well as several famous images from his paintings, and is her prized possession.

The painted porcelain teapot is “not remotely functional.” It’s rectangular and not meant to be “anything but beautiful.”

Steeped in Tradition: the 19th annual Teapot Show opened last Saturday at Ariana Gallery in Royal Oak featuring elegant, whimsical and edgy teapots by more than 40 nationally recognized artists.

Gallery owner Anne Kuffler said that every year she’s amazed at the variety of work, and this year is no exception. Most of the teapots are ceramic, but there are several blown-glass pieces, like the stylish murrini-patterned teapots by Paul Counts and the colorful pear- and gourd-shaped teapots by Stephen Rich Nelson.

A woman has been reunited with her cash after The Comet reported charity workers had found £300 stuffed inside a teapot when they were sorting through new donations.

Staff at the Sue Ryder charity shop in Whitehorse Street, Baldock, were surprised to find the wad of cash when they opened the teapot and were keen to reunite it with its rightful owner.

The owner, who did not want to be named, was thrilled when a work colleague called her after reading the article in The Comet asking the owner to come forward.

The Boonton Historical Society is using tea to bring history to life while raising money for its preservation efforts.

“We realized three years ago that we had to supplement dues with some real 21st-century fundraising,” said Jennifer Coultas, Boonton Historical Society president. “In 2004, we held our first Victorian Tea, which was a big success. The teas have been a much-anticipated and well-attended event ever since.”

Preserving local history and making residents aware of Boonton’s rich past is the goal of The Boonton Historical Society, which boasts some 200 members. Funding the society, however, is an ongoing challenge.

It’s been sitting idle for more than two years, but Zillah’s landmark Teapot Dome gas station may not be sitting still much longer.

If city officials get their way, the 84-year-old teapot-shaped building could be moved into town, where it would be converted into a visitors center.

Rising fuel prices in March 2004 convinced owner Keith Strader to close the station that’s listed on the National Historic Register.

Now, Strader wants to sell the Teapot Dome and the two acres it’s situated on just southeast of Zillah along Yakima Valley Highway. The asking price is $125,000.