What do you collect? Most people collect one or two specific items and the passion usually begins in childhood. Coins, stamps, and antiques are often first thought of, but teapots have a rich history. The best part about a beautiful teapot is that beauty truly is in the eye of the beholder. With the varied styles and types available, there are designs that will capture your heart and soul. There are many traditions related to tea and in many countries, tea is a much as a part of history as just about anything else. The history and tradition behind collecting teapots is interesting, but nothing compares to the getting your next teapot to add to your collection!

Before you learn about the history of teapots, it's best to give a little history on the tea itself. There are varying stories as to the origin of tea, one of which gives credit to a Buddhist Monk and the other to a Chinese Emperor. One thing is certain - the first tea plant was brought to China from India in the 4th century. While teapots were not used until much later, the tea leaves were dried and crushed into a powder. The powder was mixed with salt to form cakes. These cakes were placed in bowls of boiling water. It eventually became easier to leave the tea in a powder form and simply whip it with water to form a frothy liquid.

The Ming Dynasty brought teapots to the forefront. First created out of "zisha" clay, these purple teapots were valued for their color, fine texture, and thin walls. These teapots were the inspiration for hard-paste porcelain used in the western world. However, the Ming Dynasty teapots also sparked the interest in Japan and by the 15th century, both the Chinese and the Japanese cultures had embraced tea for more than just medicinal purposes.

It didn't take long for many of the artists in China and Japan to begin designing teapots that featured nature themes or sutras. When the Japanese begin making teapots out of red clay, they brought over many artisans from China to teach the pottery methods. The inspiration for the designs came from both religious and nature-based backgrounds. Over the next 300 years, the love of tea would spread around the world and with it, the love for teapots.

The globular shape of teapots today can be credited to the Europeans. This design may also have been inspired by the same shape of Islamic coffee pots. Most of the early European teapots were of poor quality, due to the poor quality of materials. During the 1700's, a new clay helped create the fine porcelain than even rivaled that of China. The style and shape of these teapots is what most people are familiar with today. However, you can find teapots in every shape and style imaginable.

It doesn't matter if you have collected teapots for decades or you're just starting your collection, you're sure to find a wide selection that will suit your taste and style. The wonderful thing about teapots is that you seldom find two exactly alike. You'll love the unique designs available today and with teapots of the past.

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Article Submitted By: Kimberley Benton
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