Collecting Teapots
06.20.06 By Lorraine NewberryMy mother never drank tea when I was a child but she had a collection of teapots in the kitchen and a shiny silver tea service displayed atop a chest in the dining room. I too have a couple of teapots, even though my tea is made exclusively by microwave. I’ve found that they work well as decorating knick-knacks since they can be pretty or interesting, subtle accents or eye-catching conversation pieces.
Teapots are used to brew tea by adding boiling water and either loose leaves or tea bags to the pot and allowing the concoction to steep. After it has been brewed to the desired concentration, the tea is poured into teacups. A teapot generally includes a handle, spout and lid and tends to be small and round where coffee pots are tall and slim.
Though most people associate tea with Great Britain, it originated in China and was introduced in Europe sometime during the 1600s. There is some disagreement about the origins of the teapot, with some sources claiming the Chinese developed it and others saying it was a western invention.
Though teapots were at first strictly functional, it wasn’t long before designers began adding artistic touches to make them beautiful as well. Over the years designers have become more creative with the basic teapot form. A quick glance at eBay will turn up novelty teapots shaped like chickens, snowmen, elephants and the Arc de Triomphe - all sorts of delightful shapes begging to be added to a collection.When beginning a collection or adding a new teapot to an existing collection, look for pots without cracks, chips or crazing, that web of fine lines that can appear in pottery, often due to extreme heat. Because a teapot that is missing its lid is not worth much and it can be extremely difficult to find a matching lid, it’s a good idea to pass on lidless pots. On the other hand, if it’s cheap and you think it would make a fun flowerpot or vase, then go for it. There are so many different sizes and styles of teapots out there, you’re sure to have a great time building a collection that reflects your personal tastes.
Check out this blog for pictures of unique teapots.Here’s an article about collecting modern novelty teapots.
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Article Tags: teapots================
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