Teapots are one of the historical artifacts found throughout many ancient cultures. Originating in China, the Chinese revered tea so much they created exacting ceremonies for the consumption of tea. Special teapots and cups were designed and used for different ceremonies. As the tea trade grew and tea became available to other countries on other continents, each country developed their own social ceremonies surrounding the purchase, storing, brewing and drinking of tea. You may not realize it, but antique teapot pottery is truly a window into historical cultures. Teapots were often used as symbols of a person's social position.

Teapots and teapot pottery come in an incredible array of styles, sizes, designs and colors. The antique teapots from different countries are incredibly diverse, yet all are similar in that they were designed to brew tea. Vintage teapots and even new teapots all have an appeal to the collector. Collecting teapot pottery offers great visual beauty as well as the practicality of being able to brew a cup of tea. Finding just the piece you have been looking to add to your collection is a great thrill.

It can be overwhelming to begin a collection of teapots, as there are so very many choices. Do some research to see what types of teapot pottery appeals to you most. Once you have made that decision, it will be easier to narrow down the choices that will make your collection cohesive. Antique teapots are very collectible, but that does not make the collecting of new teapots and teapot pottery any less beautiful and fun to collect.

Assessing the value of antique teapots, should you choose to add these to your collection, will take a bit of learning. The condition is important, as is being able to identify a true antique from a copy. Makers of nearly all collector's pottery have marks on the bottom that were put there when the piece was made. These potter's marks tell a story of the time and place where a piece was manufactured. You should be able to find many excellent resource books of potter's marks for the type and era of pottery that you are collecting. This will aid you in your search for the authentic antique teapots that will make up your collection.

As you learn to assess the condition of a collectible or antique teapot, you will see signs of wear. Doubtless, the teapot has seen some use in its lifetime and this does not make the pot less valuable. Look closely for good quality in its design and manufacture If a teapot is being sold as an antique or vintage teapot and it looks like it is in perfect condition, you are probably looking at a copy and not an authentic piece.

If the teapot is made of ceramic or porcelain, is there crackling in the finish? Are there cracks? Are there signs that the piece was mended? Does the lid fit well on the body of the pot, and does it look chipped or has it been broken? Look inside for discoloration from years of steeping tea. If there are holes that lead to the spout, they should be uneven and not perfectly round, which could mean it was more recently made by modern machinery.

If you are planning to put the teapot to use, you want your teapot to be well balanced and easy to handle. The pot should be stable when it is full and sitting on the table. The spout should not splash when pouring or dribble after you have finished pouring tea into the cups. The grip on the handle should be comfortable to lift the pot when it is full and easy for you to maintain control through the pour. A well designed teapot makes it easy to serve tea in a graceful and elegant manner.

Your collection of teapot pottery is really meant to bring you years of enjoyment. Whether your collection will be for admiring behind the glass of a cabinet or sitting on a table brewing tea or a combination of both, you will be continuing a centuries old tradition of collecting and using teapots. Planning your collection, learning as much as you can about your chosen collectible pottery era, and the searching and shopping for your collection should give you pleasure for years to come. And at the end of a tired day, put your feet up and brew yourself a nice cup of tea.