Tilso & Thames Earthenware Clown Ware

23 x 12 x 13 inches. A set of eight hand-painted Japanese earthenware novelty kitchen items featuring stylized clown faces. The set includes a large teapot, two small teapot-form shakers labeled for salt and pepper, a lidded sugar bowl, a creamer, and three additional lidded jars. Each piece is designed with a globular black-glazed body resting on three small tripod feet. The decoration consists of hand-painted clown faces with wide white-rimmed smiles, red lips, blue eyes, and prominent red bulbous noses. The pieces feature yellow-painted rims and lids designed to resemble hats. Several items incorporate metal bail handles with central spring-wound grips. The undersides of the pieces feature various markings. A silver foil label with green text on one base reads THAMES, Hand Painted, JAPAN. Other pieces feature a blue and white foil label reading TILSO, Hand Painted, JAPAN. Multiple bases bear a circular gold-colored stamp that reads DES. PAT. PEND. The salt and pepper shakers retain their original wooden cork stoppers.