Collecting Teapot Pottery

Teapots have an historical link with ancient cultures in Asia and gradually developing throughout the rest of the world. At it’s source, tea was considered a beverage for the emperors and titled rulers of the land. So highly prized, tea was used symbolically in ceremonies to celebrate all manner of special occasions. For each special occasion, special kinds of teapot pottery were created for each different ceremony. Antique teapot pottery has significant historical value as artifacts of past societies. Tea and its accompanying pottery impacted the western world in more recent centuries, and each country developed its own ceremonies surrounding tea and the pottery to brew, serve and drink tea.

An avid collector of teapot pottery is certain to entertain you with tales of the hunt. From one country to the next, through different periods, you will find a vast array of teapots in different styles, designs, colors and sizes. Whether the teapot is a genuine antique, a vintage teapot or even a newly made teapot, there is something to appeal to every collector and a teapot to fit into any collection.

Do a little research before you begin collecting. There are so many different ways to structure your collecting efforts that you might want to narrow down your criteria for starting your collection of teapot pottery. Not only are antique teapots available, but there are many beautiful and useful teapots being made today.

If your heart is set on collecting teapots from a specific era or geographic place, you need to learn how to recognize the authenticity of the piece. Potter’s marks are generally found on the bottom of the piece and resource books are easily available for you to learn to identify these marks. In addition to authenticating a teapot, you must take into consideration its condition, shape and desirability when determining how much to pay for it. You will probably make some mistakes along the way, but you want to avoid paying top dollar for a copy of a piece of collectible pottery.

An old teapot will show signs of wear and the amount of wear depends partially on the age of the teapot and partially on how well it was used. Wear does not necessarily diminish its value. Regardless, any teapot worthy of your collection should show evidence of quality. Quality in its design and in the way it was manufactured. A teapot that shows no signs of use is probably new and should be sold as such.

If the teapot is made of ceramic or porcelain, is there crackling in the finish? Are there cracks? Are there signs that the piece was mended? Does the lid fit well on the body of the pot, and does it look chipped or has it been broken? Look inside for discoloration from years of steeping tea. If there are holes that lead to the spout, they should be uneven and not perfectly round, which could mean it was more recently made by modern machinery.

If you are planning to put the teapot to use, you want your teapot to be well balanced and easy to handle. The pot should be stable when it is full and sitting on the table. The spout should not splash when pouring or dribble after you have finished pouring tea into the cups. The grip on the handle should be comfortable to lift the pot when it is full and easy for you to maintain control through the pour. A well designed teapot makes it easy to serve tea in a graceful and elegant manner.

Your collection of teapot pottery is really meant to bring you years of enjoyment. Whether your collection will be for admiring behind the glass of a cabinet or sitting on a table brewing tea or a combination of both, you will be continuing a centuries old tradition of collecting and using teapots. Planning your collection, learning as much as you can about your chosen collectible pottery era, and the searching and shopping for your collection should give you pleasure for years to come. And at the end of a tired day, put your feet up and brew yourself a nice cup of tea.

In memory of her fabulous grandmother, Rachel started collecting teapots and other teapot pottery when she was in college. Her love of collector’s pottery has grown to include vintage and classic 20th Century pottery. Rachel offers fabulous deals and affordable pieces of collectible pottery on her website.