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Century Teapot
Nice find! I'm curious about the blue lid though. I'd assumed the white teapot was sold with a white lid. Were accent colors available? Regardless, this is a beautiful teapot.
Century Colored Lids
That's an excellent question.
Over the years I have found White Century with various colored lids. I know I have seen yellow, blue, and white and I think I recall seeing pink. Last year I purchased a covered sugar and covered casserole in white with yellow lids. I just received a large postcard announcement from the Craft and Folk Art Museum announcing a Eva Zeisel exhibition and on the front of the postcard, among other things, was a white casserole with yellow lid.
Honestly, I don't know the story behind the colored lids and this is a reminder for me to ask the question. I'm going to ask someone editing/writing the definitive book on Eva Z and see what she knows.
Century Colored Lids
Depending on how these were displayed and sold in the retail stores of the time, I can't help but wonder if customer preference played a role in colored lids on White Century. Is it possible a customer could have decided a yellow Sunglow lid, for example, looked better on the White teapot than a white lid and switched it out? If replacement lids were available as open stock (?), that could have been common both at time of purchase and in the case of replacing broken lids. This is obvious speculation on my part but it seems possible.
hypotheses
Clyde, on all the pieces I have purchased like this, none have a backstamp. One grouping--a large platter, sugar, creamer, and covered casserole--were all first quality white with the colored accent lid. This recent teapot also has no backstamp.
The only thing I was able to ascertain with certainty when I asked my question was that a pink lid was highly unlikely since there are no patterns that came with pink lids. I'm still waiting to hear back from a follow-up email.
I think there are several possible hypotheses that I would offer up:
1) yours, that perhaps customers were permitted to switch lids.
2) that blanks were sold to decorators and this was a decision outside Hall
3) perhaps employees were permitted to buy unstamped items and switch things around
4) factory store purchases
5) an 'accent' line that isn't documented
6) patterns had decorated or undecorated serving pieces.
Everything I mention above is pure speculation. I would really like a definitive answer. It's been a nagging question in the back of my mind for some time.
Has anyone else bought a single piece, set, or grouping of Century that is white with colored lids?
Blue and Yellow Covers on White Century...
I just heard from Pat Moore regarding my follow-up question and we don't have an answer to our question. She has activated her deep resources who will try to get us an answer. In the meantime, she has asked that if anyone does have any information regarding the question, she would appreciate it if we passed it along. So stay tuned.
There is no end to research! The hunt and chase after information is much fun.
Hunt and Chase
Regarding blue and yellow covers on White Century, all of the hypotheses you list make sense but I agree a definitive answer is preferable to speculation. Thank you for checking with Pat Moore and I'll definitely stay tuned for more information. I agree that the hunt and chase of research is a blast. I'm observing here but it's very exciting!
This discussion got me thinking about a Town & Country photo that appears in Lucie Young's lovely book on Eva Zeisel. Pictured is a white T & C teapot with a blue lid and I think the combination looks fabulous.