Teapots - Part I

Emily Mayıs 09, 2022

My girlfriend recently gave me a wonderful book about teapots. It contains nine chapters: [1] A Brief History of Teapots [2] Figural Teapots [3] Fine China Teapots [4] Floral Teapots [5] Porcelain Teapots [6] Pottery Teapots [7] Silver, Pewter, and Other Metal Teapots [8] Tiny Teapots and [9] Collecting Guidelines.

Of the many teapots pictured in the 80 page hardcover book, I only saw two that are in my collection. The author states the exact origins of the teapot are unknown, but there are two theories. One is that the teapot evolved from the Islamic coffeepot; and the other is that the teapot was a modified form of early Chinese wine vessels. And actually, it could be a combination of both since Islamic countries border China. Regardless, the number of teapots that exist in the world since the first teapot was designed in the 17th century, are countless.

On July 21, 2015 I wrote a post about the number of functional teapots in my collection which I estimated to be around 97 at that time. A friend of mine says if you count the items in a collection that means it's an obsession, but this teapot book inspired me to retrieve all the photos of teapots I've shared on my blog from 2012 until now, and photograph the others that haven't been done, and share them on my blog. It's been quite a task, but with a cup of tea in hand I invite you to take a look at my teapot collection which will be divided into multiple posts. And by the way... I do know I have an obsession for teapots! ;-)

Because every collection has a beginning, this post begins with the first teapot I received in 1966 at my bridal shower. It was was long before I became smitten with tea, but I lovingly cared for it until that time came, and it's even more special now because the lady who gave it to me has passed on. It's made by Ellgreave Pottery [which became a division of Wood & Sons] in Burslem, Stoke-on-Trent, England.