Raised, double-bellied, baluster or pear-shaped teapot with a double-domed, gadrooned-edge, hinged lid topped by a cast spiral-ribbed knop on a short pedestal base with a gadroon-banded, circular foot. Body is engraved on opposite sides with "MB" in conjoined, shaded foliate script in a four-sided, ruffled C-scroll reserve and with the coat of arms of Berkeley inside an asymmetrical, C-scroll cartouche. S-curve spout is scrolled along back and has a shell, anthemion, and pendant drop on front. Spurred, S-curve handle is pinned into an upper socket with pendant shell and drop and a split-scroll lower socket with a curvilinear plate. Hole in body at spout. Underside of rounded bottom is struck twice "WH" in raised script in conforming surround above and below centerpoint (a large "X" scratched over both). Underside of foot engraved "MARY BEALE" in roman letters and "oz Dwt. / 39,,13". Part of an assembled service (coffeepot, sugar bowl and waste bowl), DL*239176, DL*239178, and DL*239179.
Maker is William Hollingshead of Philadelphia, PA; w. 1757-1785.