The Exotic Teapot

For centuries tea has entered the political arena hence impacting societies, prosperity and traditions around the world.  In 1391 the Ming Dynasty in China ruled that loose teas were to be honoured by the courts instead of tea bricks.  In 1773 a historical event in the soon to be USA occurred, rebuking taxation of tea from the British Parliament. This was instrumental to the American Revolution.  Today, if using a US search engine such as Google.com then typing in tea party over 72,500 links appear, with the first page and many more associated with the current political movement called the tea party.  These are just two nations’ examples.  The history of tea and its benefits indicate what a precious commodity it truly is.   

Margaret Bohls, curator for “Teapots:  Function, Formal, Narrative” has written an article to ceramic artists.  The purpose was to share with them the reasons for creating that magnificent object referred to as the teapot.  She writes:

 The teapot is, arguably, the most visually and culturally loaded pottery form. Trade, fashion, social class, nationalism, and industry, have all contributed to the layers of cultural and historical meaning inherent to this particular cultural artifact. Being at the same time an aesthetic object and a utilitarian object, the teapot also carries all of the potential and all of the contradictions inherent in the field of contemporary ceramics.  

 Margaret addresses the various avenues a ceramic artist can focus on when deciding how to design their teapots.  Besides functional these include:  the aesthetic challenge, the physical relationship to the body, the historical or story-telling perspective and that of decoration.   

After reading the article and with a cup of tea in hand I realized that I was looking at my teapot collection so to gain a greater insight from the artists designing the ones displayed on my shelves.  

I stumbled across a fun quiz to test one’s knowledgeof tea etiquette.  Thus far, the average score is 42.5/100.  Less than 3% of testers passed the test.  These are the easier True/False questions:

1.      If serving tea at a tea party or high tea, lemons should always be in wedges, not in slices.

2.      If you are at a formal tea party, it is proper to keep your gloves on while drinking tea.

3.      Traditionally a tea cup holds 6 ounces.

4.      It is proper etiquette to hold your pinky in the air while bringing your teacup to your mouth for a sip.

The quiz can be found at:

http://www.quizmoz.com/quizzes/General-Etiquette-Quizzes/t/Tea-Etiquette-Quiz.asp

For 35 years Cynthia Shuhy has been an acclaimed hunter and jumper at local horse shows.  Her passion for displaying skill continues at her upscale antique and gift shop where she selects each piece to show.  Cynthia’s business has been in operation for a quarter of a century.  Her attention to detail is obviously what has allowed her to exceed.  These porcelain floral teapots are a few of her pieces that demonstrate the appreciation for ostentatious presentation.

Tea leaves are usually stored in tins to prevent exposure to light.  However, some tea leaves warrant exposure for all to see.  The bottled leaves shown are from the historical Boston Tea Party dated  December 1773.  It occurred to me that having tea for a special occasion or celebration is historical amongst our own circle of family and friends.  Retaining some of these tea leaves, placing in a small decorative bottle with a hand written label to identify the event would be a charming and personable gift for guests.

Wu Dong Jun is a Chinese ceramic artist that specializes in Yixing clay.  Unlike the traditional purple clay pots, Wu Dong uses this prime earthy matter for contemporary designs.  This teapot has been glazed with stylish brown and black colours.  The legs are exaggerated; the spout and handle sizes reduced.  It is a sleek, stylish, chic teapot; one that would catch anyone’s attention, even the traditional or vintage Yixing teapot artist.   

How many use artsy teapots for decoration?  Hand blown glass teapots with blooming tea are used for centerpieces at dinner parties.   Collectible silversmith and ceramic pots are strategically placed on well- lit shelves for display.  And, when the lids break teapots become flower vases.  Decorating bare walls with one-dimensional teapots are often forgotten.  There are many artistic painters out there such as Carolyn Pappas that appreciate the shape of teapots as ceramic artists do.  Additionally a pot of tea contains water, the same source as a still life painting with watercolours.  Also, some use tea to stain the paper in which a teapot is painted. 

Looking for something to do on a quiet evening with family, friends or children?  A collector friend of mind suggested a party playing vintage tea board games.  Just how many of these games exist?  Actually there are quite a few.  There is the 1920’s Alice in Wonderland game; the 1973 version in which the first to overflow other player’s cups with sugar, water and tea is the winner.  And, for the younger ones there are “the teapot game” and “Tea Party Game.” Of course plenty of tea and biscuits are required.

Annette Corcoran, born in 1930, mastered porcelain design and under-glazing before 1960.  She proceeded to create her own style thereafter, mostly focusing on avian subject matter.  Her desire for realism exudes detailed plumage of each bird teapot she has created.  Because of her specialty, Ms. Corcoran’s works are sought by collectors of teapots, birdwatchers and museums.  This Goose Teapot is one that has recently shown up at auction.  

Have you have heard the saying you are what you eat off of?  Porcelain artist Mary Markeenan chuckled when she read this statement.  This is only because she has put so much time and effort into her plates, cups and teapots.  Mary thinks only those that appreciate the finer things in life use handmade pottery.  And, Mary, like many of us sense that tea does taste better when you are aware that someone has created the vessel because they believe it to be true.

Steampunk refers to the combination of sci-fi and exploratory fiction but… with fantasy undertones.  Additionally, this style focuses on the Victorian English era only as it relates to steam power.  These teapots, made by Michael Morarity are of this genre; it has a temperature gauge, spout cover, release key and percolation window.  Tea is placed in the top hatch; when the temperature is high, the release key that controls an internal seal is manually pulled then hot water percolates through.  This rotates the key as it percolates.

This teapot is just one of Bruce Noske’s astoundingly pierced designs which reflect the Victorian days of chintzes and Wedgewood but with a minimalist Oriental twist.  His pots are meticulously developed, all with similar shoulder, base, lid, unique handle and spout.  Because he has always enjoyed doodling, or sketching, patterns of leaves and animals, Bruce applies these to teapots via hand painted brushwork and slip carved decorations.

The pottery made in Tokoname City in Japan is known as Tokoname-yaki.  During the 12th and 13th centuries an estimated 3,000 kilns were built.  Today this pottery region, located on the Chita Peninsula, still has 1,200 ancient kilns in operation.  It wasn’t until the 19^th century that teapots were introduced.  By using rich red clay and artistic embellishments, tokoname teapots still remain durable, affordable and visually appealing.

This tea ware can be found at the Zhu Ye Qing Tea Museum and Garden in Emei City in the Sichuan Province of China.  The pot is actually quite nice; the other parts of the set are what make it somewhat peculiar.  Actually the base is a spoon holder: the spoon used to scoop tea leaves into the pot.  The ornate scooper, curvaceous teapot handle and etching on the thick base do compose an interesting tea set.    

Tea drinkers decorating for the holidays will especially appreciate these images this time of year.  All are vintage glass tea-ware ornaments.  If you haven’t a collection perhaps you should start; there are many wonderful antique teapot ornaments waiting for purchase on various bidding web sites, most likely admired by us tea fans.