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Chinese yixing teapot--Teapots symbolize cultural tradition
Throughout the world, water is the only drink consumed more often than tea. In China, India, England, North America and elsewhere, tea has strongly influenced culture.
In China, tea drinking was conventionalized by tea masters and romanticized by poets. The Japanese tea ceremony celebrates a national lifestyle. A 17th-century Mongol prince introduced tea to Russia, while teatime in England has punctuated the daily routine for hundreds of years. The Boston Tea Party ignited a series of events that changed history.
The earliest known written record of tea drinking in China was in 770 AD (Tang Dynasty). But it was not until about 1650 that tea was available in England. Although merchants and travellers had known about tea almost 100 years earlier, it was never considered suitable for commercial trade. Since it came from a country that was largely unknown, and since there was very little knowledge about tea itself, there was not much confidence among merchants or potential consumers.
The key to tea's popularity in England began with royal approval and use by the aristocracy. By 1660, Cromwell's Republic had ended and the monarchy had been restored.
The subsequent marriage of Charles II to the Portuguese princess and tea lover, Catherine of Braganza, ensured the acceptance of tea drinking in England. During the 1680s there were many publications about tea making and its sup-posed extensive medicinal benefits. Drinking tea was now firmly established in England's genteel society.
Tea arrived in England on East India Co. ships from the Chinese port of Canton. Both green (unfermented) and black (fermented) teas were popular. By the second half of the 18th century, substantial amounts of tea were re-exported to the American colonies. Subjected to constantly increasing taxes, the symbolic dumping of tea into Boston's harbour was an influential political gesture towards national independence.
Early Chinese teapots were made from porcelain, a ceramic material used in China since the 9th century A.D. It was made by mixing kaolin (a pure white clay formed by the decay of feldspar, the primary component of granite) with petuntse (a less fully decomposed feldspar).
After the teapot shape was fashioned on a foot-operated potter's wheel, and a handle and spout attached, it was fired in a kiln at about 900C, then dipped in glaze and fired again at about 1300C. The petuntse binds the kaolin parti-cles together, making the final porcelain body translucent. The high temperature vitrifies the teapot, making it water-proof even without glazing.
Beginning in the mid-16th century, the English and Dutch East India Companies brought Chinese porcelain to Europe. Since these items were very expensive and scarce, the Europeans anxiously tried to discover the secret of por-celain, which they finally did at the Meissen factory near Dresden, in about 1710. By the end of 18th century, potters all over Europe were making porcelain.
Early European teapots were spherical in shape, copying the Chinese prototype. This form was not only relatively easy for a potter to make, but it also had another practical purpose: A spherical shape holds the greatest amount of liquid with the least surface area. It is, therefore, the most economical use of porcelain and the most efficient shape to keep its contents hot for the longest possible time.
Early English teapots were initially decorated with blue painted Chinese motifs, but by the end of the 18th century, designs became more indigenous and so did their shapes.
As tea became more plentiful and cheaper, more people could afford it. Teapots became larger and were also now made from earthenware, a less expensive ceramic material than porcelain.
One example was moulded to resemble a pineapple, which symbolizes hospitality, and then covered with realistic yellow and green glazes.
Unlike porcelain, earthenware is not watertight unless it is glazed.
When buying an antique teapot, remember this simple rule: what sticks out is the easiest to damage. Handles and lid finials are often broken off and glued back in place. Always check carefully for these telltale breaks. Spouts take a beating. Inspect the tip for damage and possible repairs.
Be somewhat tolerant of condition problems if the teapot is old and rare. Otherwise do not buy it. Teapots make great collections, but for everyday use think practical. My choice is a good old Brown Betty.
Objects of Design reveals the stories behind everyday objects. Many traditional styles enjoy ongoing popularity and are still made today. Conrad Biernacki is in the Public Programs Department at the Royal Ontario Museum and can be reached at conradb @ rom.on.ca.
On July 5, we asked: Where do you think Thomas Chippendale got his idea for the ribbon designs on some of his chair backs?
Christopher Wilson, of Mississauga, had the correct answer and was the winner in the random draw.
The Answer: From women's fashions. Fancy dresses, hats and shoes were often embellished with expensive ribbons. On chair backs, ribbon motifs alluded to elegant couture, and gave the furniture designer and carver an opportunity to demonstrate their skills.
About the Author
Offers handmade yixing teapots,also called zisha teapot, is known as the best in Chinese teapots or China teapots, and accessories from Yixing, China.
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