This design appears in the costing book of James Dixon & Sons for 1879 as design model no. 2277, although with variants, and is described as 'English Japanese', pointing to the Japanese influence in some of Dresser's most radical metalwork designs. The silver-plated teapod’s squat hemispherical body is complemented by four raised peg feet, while the black ebonised wood handle offers a beautiful contrast against the silverplated body.

Often regarded as the 'father of industrial design', Christopher Dresser (1834-1904) designed utilitarian objects for the general public. The London Exposition of 1862 influenced Dresser’s interest in Japanese art, which can be seen in his mindful reduction of surface embellishment and abstract ornamentation. His aesthetic values did not translate to works that could be mass-manufactured, therefore many of his works were too expensive and too complicated to manufacture by machine. Only approximately twelve examples of the original variant of this particular model have been recorded, one of which is in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum in London.