Tea is thought to have been discovered in China around 5000 years ago. The beverage became popular throughout China and as a trade item travelled east to Korea and Japan and along the Silk Road trade route to India, Arabia and the Mediterranean. The discovery of tea led to the development of vessels designed to enhance a highly ritualised activity.
The traditional Chinese style was originally designed to be cradled in the palm and tea sipped from the stem.
In China, Yixing has become the centre for fine teapots. The local ‘Zisha’ clay contains quartz, mica and a high amount of iron but no toxic chemicals. The unique composition allows absorption of the tea while preserving the heat, colour and taste. Folklore suggests that eventually, simply adding water will draw a pot of tea from the absorbed flavour.
There are three common forms of teapot craft, the hand-crafted pot where each component is carefully crafted without moulds; the hand-moulded pot, where individual components are created, joined and finished by hand and slip moulded pots, poured in moulds and assembled by hand.
Our current range consists of hand and slip moulded pots, including 10 from our hand moulded range and 4 from our slip moulded range.
The design of a teapot is the property of the pottery master who created it. Each design in our range closely or suggestively represents some aspect of Chinese Culture.