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Teapots & Sets

From Ming Dynasty pieces to Meissen tea services, teapots and their companions reflect both elegance and beauty in their craftsmanship and decoration. While the tradition of drinking tea dates back thousands of years, the teapot as it is known today is a more recent creation.

Early tea drinkers used teacups, but the teapot lagged behind, as it was customary to prepare tea in a stew pot over heat. The first official teapot, known as the "Yixing," emerged around the dawn of the 16th century in China's Jiangsu province. Known for the purplish-red clay, known as "zisha," from which the vessel is crafted, these Yixing teapots were renowned for their smooth finish and the ability to absorb some of the aromas from the tea.

In subsequent years, teapots became increasingly refined and decorative while also spreading westward. By the 17th century, teapots were all the rage in western Europe, and their designs emulated the trends of their respective generations. From Rococo flair in the 18th century to the streamlined modernism of the early to mid-20th century, teapots have evolved to assume myriad shapes and sizes that all share in the rich history of the refined brewed beverage.


Quick Facts

  • Some of the earliest teapots to reach western Europe were known as "East India pots" and were characterized by their pear-shaped contour and straight spouts
  • Early western European teapots were heavily influenced in their design by Islamic coffee pots, in part because the tradition of coffee drinking was already well established by the time tea drinking arrived on the continent
  • The current record for the most expensive teapot is held by a Yixing Zisha teapot. Created by renowned ceramist Gu Jingzhou in the late '40s, the vessel sold for $2,000,000 in May of 2010

Recommended Items at Auction

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A pairing of vintage Polish enamel teapots (H:18cm-tallest)
Nov 08, 1:00 PM AEDT
A pairing of vintage Polish enamel teapots (H:18cm-tallest)
by Lawsons
Est: AUD60- AUD80
AUD150 Bids
A Jameson & Tailor style cat form ceramic teapot (H:19cm)
Nov 08, 1:00 PM AEDT
A Jameson & Tailor style cat form ceramic teapot (H:19cm)
by Lawsons
Est: AUD60- AUD80
AUD150 Bids
Victorian porcelain teapot with bamboo style handle (H: 15cm)
Nov 08, 1:00 PM AEDT
Victorian porcelain teapot with bamboo style handle (H: 15cm)
by Lawsons
Est: AUD60- AUD80
AUD150 Bids
An Arzberg retro drinks suite including teapot (H:19cm), four cups and saucers
Nov 08, 1:00 PM AEDT
An Arzberg retro drinks suite including teapot (H:19cm), four cups and saucers
by Lawsons
Est: AUD60- AUD80
AUD150 Bids
A suite of four Picquot tea wares (H:19cm-tallest)
Nov 08, 1:00 PM AEDT
A suite of four Picquot tea wares (H:19cm-tallest)
by Lawsons
Est: AUD80- AUD120
AUD150 Bids

Sellers Who Sell Teapots & Sets


Lawsons

Lawsons