Teapot Tuesday - The Death of the Teapot?
A few months ago several potters started posting pictures of the teapots they have made on Facebook and blogs. They called it "Teapot Tuesday" and it's been great fun. Teapots can be incredibly fun and interesting. Just spend some time looking through Lark's 500 Teapots to see what I mean.
When I think about teapots I often think about the teapots I was surrounded with as a child. My mother had a few, some were used for everyday, other's, made of bone china were used only with company on special occasions. She had an old "Brown Betty" that she inherited from my great grandmother who may have brought it over from England. Even the "everyday" teapots were not used everyday in our house but my grandmother made a pot of tea to serve after lunch every day. I wonder how many people in America make a pot of tea everyday. I know some people that drink an entire pot of green tea everyday and I know some people who have never drank tea from a pot.
That makes me wonder about the life of a teapot in modern times. Honestly, I have quite a few teapots, sometimes I use them sometimes I just boil the water in the mug and drop in the teabag. However, I do like the process of making and drinking tea using a teapot. It feels right. It makes me slow down and feel calmer.
Even though I do know a man that collects my teapots I don't make very many (I suspect his wife is happy about that) and usually they are custom orders. I don't know that anyone has ever walked into my booth or sent me an email asking if I make teapots like they do with other pots like casserole dishes. I would think a nice, handcrafted teapot would make a lovely wedding gift but nobody has asked. I simply find that interesting. I wonder if drinking tea from a teapot is something that we do alone now. Some quiet, private ceremony so that our friends and family don't really know if we make pots of tea.
When I wrote about having a dinner party my friend Gary Rith wrote that he invites people over for tea because it's easier. He also makes some terrific teapots. I think I'll follow that idea and invite some friends over for tea this weekend.
How do you drink your tea?
Check out the gallery page - Future Relics Gallery by Lori Buff
When I think about teapots I often think about the teapots I was surrounded with as a child. My mother had a few, some were used for everyday, other's, made of bone china were used only with company on special occasions. She had an old "Brown Betty" that she inherited from my great grandmother who may have brought it over from England. Even the "everyday" teapots were not used everyday in our house but my grandmother made a pot of tea to serve after lunch every day. I wonder how many people in America make a pot of tea everyday. I know some people that drink an entire pot of green tea everyday and I know some people who have never drank tea from a pot.
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| Ash Glazed Teapot |
Even though I do know a man that collects my teapots I don't make very many (I suspect his wife is happy about that) and usually they are custom orders. I don't know that anyone has ever walked into my booth or sent me an email asking if I make teapots like they do with other pots like casserole dishes. I would think a nice, handcrafted teapot would make a lovely wedding gift but nobody has asked. I simply find that interesting. I wonder if drinking tea from a teapot is something that we do alone now. Some quiet, private ceremony so that our friends and family don't really know if we make pots of tea.
When I wrote about having a dinner party my friend Gary Rith wrote that he invites people over for tea because it's easier. He also makes some terrific teapots. I think I'll follow that idea and invite some friends over for tea this weekend.
How do you drink your tea?
Check out the gallery page - Future Relics Gallery by Lori Buff
I'm not an everyday tea drinker in summer (unless it's iced), but I definitely drink a tea pot every day in the winter! Loose tea for the most part, but sometimes bagged...
ReplyDeleteHi ShellHawk, you can get some really great loose teas, and they smell so good when you open the jar... It's funny, I often make tea for iced tea in a teapot.
DeleteI am not a tea drinker. Once in awhile if Jeff makes a pot I will have a little. It definitely is more of an experience when using a teapot instead of a teabag. I definitely don't like matcha...I think it tastes like grass clippings! Jeff on the other hand enjoys it.
ReplyDeleteHi Michèle, sharing a pot of tea does help to enhance the experience for me. I don't think I've tried matcha but I'm not really sure I will now. Hehe.
DeleteI use a teapot every single day. Sometimes my cast iron one, sometimes a clay one, but there is tea drinking going on at my house all day long. If friends come over, the first thing I do is make a pot of tea. I love the gesture and it gives you something to do when people first come into the house :)
ReplyDeleteThat's a really nice gesture Tracey, it's a way to make your guests feel special.
DeleteI used to make pots of tea, and somehow got into the bag and nuked mug of water. Solitary tea. But I can do like Gary suggested and invite someone over. Do I have to do crumpets too?
ReplyDeleteIt's a great idea Barb, no crumpets required.
DeleteI am so lazy, I often use stringless teabags, toss it in the mug with water and give it a minute and a half in the 'wave :) BUT, I am a teapot specialist, and make and sell them every week I love them so. I would rather spend time fiddling with teapots than make boring stacks of plates. YES, they sell. It is a small market, but if you are tied into it, then customers look for you :)
ReplyDelete