Short History of the Teapot
A crucial aesthetic element of the tea ceremony whether in China or England is the vessel used to make and serve tea. Before the development of the teapot during the Ming dynasty, tea leaves were boiled in hot water poured into open pans. The teapot was created to fulfill a need for a covered vessel in which to infuse leaves but at the same time keep the liquid hot. In China, the development of the teapot resulted in a period of extraordinary invention from 1510 onwards. The Yixing region - an area reknowned for thousands of years as the pottery capital of China - produced the majority of early teapots. The dissemination of Yixing teapots helped influence
not only the forms of teapots found throughout the world, but also was a catalyst in the invention of hard-paste porcelain throughout the western world.
From the end of the 17th century, tea was shipped from China to
Europe alongside exotic spices and luxury goods. The
ships that brought the tea also brought porcelain teapots that were highly prized by the upper classes in Europe. Loose tea was used to cushion and protect the fragile teapots from breaking during the journey. These porcelain teapots were
particularly desirable because porcelain could not be made in Europe at
that time and were thus very expensive.
It took European potters almost 100 years to discover the secret of manufacturing hard paste porcelain and bone China like that used in the Tang Dynasty. In the 18th century, British potters with famous names such as Wedgewood, Spode, Worcester and Derby begin to create quality stoneware, porcelain and bone China tea ware.
The size and shape of teapots has evolved over the years to suit various tastes and fashions. Today, teapots are available in any size, shape or style. Designs have become so varied that in some cases the teapot is no
longer just a vessel for tea but also a vessel for show. A teapot is often considered a centerpiece especially in social occasions like dinner parties. In the last two decades, the investigation of the teapot as a pure art form has reached an inventive peak. The "aesthetic" teapot, designed with modern-day convenience is becoming more and more popular. The latest in "aesthetic" teapot trends revolves today around glass teapots made from hardened, borosilicate glass. These allow tea drinkers to visually savour the unfurling of the tea leaves as they infuse in the hot water.
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