My Hall China Teapots

Do you like to collect vintage teapots? Then I'm sure you know that some of the most collectible teapots were made by the Hall China Company of East Liverpool, Ohio. Over the years as an antique dealer, I have bought and sold a countless array of Hall teapots. But my favorites, pictured below, are the keepers.

In the early 1940s, Hall came out with a "Victorian Style" teapot line. There were six in all; the Murphy (blue), Benjamin (green), Bowknot (pink), Birch (blue), Connie (green) and Plume (pink). However, this series had lackluster sales, so Hall decided to add gold decorations to make them more popular. They still didn't catch on and the line was dropped by the end of that decade. 

I used to have all six of the Victorian teapot line. Since I'm not that fond of pink, I sold the Plume and Bowknot ones at my tea room several years ago. I kept four lovely pots in celadon green and light blue. I prefer the simple, undecorated teapots. The ones with gold are a bit gaudy for my taste.

In the early 1950s, Hall released six new teapots that were probably intended to replace the Victorian series. Called "Thornley Teapots," they were designed by the noted J. Palin Thornley. This line was produced two ways: undecorated and with gold designs and glass rhinestones imbedded in small pockets formed in the body of the pots. Talk about gaudy!

I came across one of the Thornley teapots at the Elephant's Trunk Flea Market a few years back. Shown below, it is undecorated and called the Apple. I paid $12 for it and have since learned that it's one of the most difficult Hall Thornley teapots to find. Score! 

Here is a view of my Connie Victorian style teapot.

This one is the Murphy.

The Benjamin, below, is my all-time favorite teapot.

And this pretty one is called the Birch.

Did you know that Hall still produces china for the foodservice industry as well as the retail trade? Once while John and I were visiting family in Cleveland, Ohio, we took a two-hour drive to East Liverpool to tour the Hall China factory. It was really interesting. They even had an outlet store called The Hall Closet filled with newly-made pieces. After checking out Hall's website, I discovered that a few of their classic teapots are still in production today. They can be found online at Hall's eStore here.

Hall China's teapots are well made and super sturdy. I guess that's why so many vintage ones are still around today. Plus, they brew a great pot of tea.

Susan

Comments

[Colleen Shipler]

I LOVE this post! I do collect vintage teapots and have never seen these teapots- the styles and colors are fabulous. Thanks so much- I'm just drooling over them. I thoroughly enjoy your blog.

[Susan]

Hi Colleen,
So nice to hear from a fellow teapot collector!
Thanks for your kind words,
Susan

[Claudia]

These are so lovely - and the colors are really neat. I'll have to keep my eye out for them. Thanks for all the interesting information about them.

xo
Claudia

[Elsie]

OMG...OMG...OMG....thats oh my goodness by the way....You are speaking my language. I collect Hall Blue Bouquet china. How I got started was I inherited my grandma's aladdin teapot so I took it from there. I have close to 200 pieces. Grandma and Grandpa use to drink Standard coffee and they gave coupons that you could redeem for items and that's how grandma got her teapot. The last time I looked that teapot was valued at about $200. I am always on the look for Blue Bouquet. I have another white Hall teapot also. I love,love,love Hall China.

[Susan]

Elsie-- I'll have to keep my eye out for Hall Blue Bouquet items for you. When are you going to start your own blog so that we can see YOUR wonderful collections? Or at least put some pictures up on Flickr for us to drool over!

[Mom Wald]

Thanks for the information. Your collection is so lovely together. They look so much better than the photos in the Hall books. I have a couple newer Hall mystery dishes here.
http://momwaldsplace.blogspot.com/2010/11/hall-flower-dish-mystery.html

It would be great to visit the company and "closet".

[Susan]

I found your Hall mystery dish at this link!
http://www.hallchina.com/upload/banners/Mini_Dessert_Dishes.pdf

[Mom Wald]

Wow, I could not figure out how to navigate their site before. You are very talented. Thanks ever so much!

[Jill]

I really love this teapot collection of yours. The colors and shapes are so pretty!
Hugs,
Jill

[Carla]

Thank you - I really enjoyed this lovely post, and learned more about teapots.

Over 35 years ago, we stopped at an antique store in Tulsa. This was before antique malls and even though I really liked old things, I'd never ventured into the store. There was a really lovely teapot with crosshatching and shamrocks (I think). When I asked how much it was, the owner knocked my socks off when she said $250.00, which is twice what our apartment rent was. It must have been a highly collectible piece, or she didn't want to sell it. Wish I remembered what she called it. (I didn't buy it.)

[Ray]

I have a vintage Hall teapot, all I know is that its a Cleveland #0146/ 5 cups and has a matching trivet, its nice to see some one else likes the vintage Hall teapots,some day I would like to know more about my pot.
Thanks for a great site

[Ray]

I forgot to say the pot is pink with gold trim and butterflies.

[Ray]

Thank you Susan for the help with the ID to my teapot, its aways nice when you find someone who likes to help when they can

[Anne at Kitschy Vintage]

Thanks, Susan, for this post -- it looks like I came to the party a year late! I just picked up a Hall Murphy and was researching it and your post gave me LOTS of information. Thanks again!

[Ray]

Really like your pie keep, do you know if the Elephant's trunk going to be open this year, I was told it may not open at all in 2012, I find some of the best 50s stuff there

[Fay Blackstone]

Love this!! I have a Benjamin and it has a tiny white spot on the front. It doesn't feel rough but seems the glaze didn't quite cover this teeny place. Is this considered a flaw or second?

[Julie]

So glad to find this post! I have an unmarked teapot that looks just like the "Birch" and have often wondered who manufactured it. I love the blues and greens in this collection.

[Denise]

thank you, lovely and informative post

[donald]

Do you have a Hall's red football teapot, the early ones?

[Joy Wolfe]

I purchased the "green birch" @ an auction yesterday, thinking it was sold as a Hull piece. After researching, and finding your site, I am delighted to find that I have a treasure. As a Hull, I would have given it to my daughter as a gift, as she collects those. But I get to keep it and brew my tea in the beautiful Connie green pot!

[Melba Wood]

Love your teapots. I have the blue Birch, purchased by my Mother, for her Mother,
in about 1953-1954. She bought it at a five and dime in Chillicothe, TX.

[Margie Burdick]

Enjoying your information as I get more educated on vintage items. Zero teapot experience, but I've happened on your page and the blue teapot I was trying to identify appears to be Birch except it has some gold markings. Haven't found a picture like that yet. No circle mark underneath but in gold, HALL 0042 6 CUP MADE IN U.S.A. Concerned if reproduction or could it be the Thornley you described? Gold is minimal - only on lid and surrounding the lid opening. Straight lines that form a reverse flower image.

[Kathy Thomas]

Is there a Hall Teapot Collectors group in Cleveland OH? I have 2 beautiful Hall Teapots from the 1930s that I would be happy to sell to a collector. One of them was a gift to my grandmother for her birthday in 1934. The other is from the closing of a convent. Thank you for any information you may offer!

[sue holland]

Does the Connie Birch have any value? It is is perfect condition. Looks like it has never been used. I love the color and seems like a well made teapot.

[T-Party Antiques]

Yes, it is a lovely teapot! However, not terribly valuable. 

[Rebecca Rebeske]

I have a vintage Hall teapot that was my great grandmothers. I cannot find anything in my searches that looks like it. I did notice the hall logo is pressed into the ceramics instead of stamped. Would that help determine the age?