Antique Plate World

Proven! Antique Tea Pots Slow Time!

Most people would never consider antique teapots as important historical artifacts. But they are. They hold the key to many cultures; the way they spent their time, how they withdrew from the day, entertained and courted friendships and traded secrets. A lot like today.

Drinking tea and the tea ceremony give us relief during a busy day – even if for a moment. Of course, everything today is minimized and tea ceremonies consist of unceremoniously throwing a tea bag into a mug. This is nothing like ceremonies that other eras developed – but the shorthand is still there -pausing from the day.

Countries like China, Japan, England, India, Egypt, Russia and Germany have their own tea histories. Antique teapots provide proof and clues as to how people used tea in these different countries to conduct business, treaties, marriage contracts and gossip. Antique teapots sybmolized your life, status and position.

Today people collect antique teapots because of their visual or collectible appeal. And there are so many antique tea pot styles, designs and eras to choose from. From porcelain antique tea pots, Victorian teapots, cast iron or Japanese antique teapots you can find antique teapots in every color, shape, size and country.

While blue antique tea pots are well-known there are also antique bamboo teapots, antique bronze teapots, silver antique teapots, antique clay teapots, glass antique teapots, and even antique crystal teapots.

So in your quest for finding and collecting antique tea pots things to consider include:

1.            The era or period

2.            The maker or manufacturer

3.            Antique markings on the piece

4.            Uniqueness of design, color or shape of the lid, spout and body.

5.            Number in existence.

Some antique teapots have strainers built into the bottom of the teapot to prevent loose tea leaves from getting poured into teacups. Clever – and a design feature some modern tea pots have copied from these antique tea pots.

Some antique tea pots have strainers attached inside the spout but on the whole many without strainers at all.

Antique teapots may feel out of place next to the teabag world but they still serve a great purpose. For those who collect the pleasure ranges from uniqueness, color, design and even price.

For those who enjoy taking a moment to make tea in an antique teapot, whether it’s Staffordshire teapots, antique silver teapots or a yixing teapot, when they reach for an antique teapot they make time stand still. It’s may be an illusion but by using antique tea pots in your home you slow down the process of making tea into individual components. Each important for making tea and slowing down the day to collect yourself before you head off again.

I make tea in my antique teapot when I can; its antique Georgian made of sterling silver. My only complaint is that it’s too small because once I have poured two cups there is no third and I only have so much time to make tea.

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