The Secrets of Porcelain and The Teapot story.

Charlotte Harrison is a Ceramic Artist and Figurative Sculptor, she has had a varied career, running her own business in York and made commemorative plates for the National trust.

Charlotte brought many really interesting teapots of all shapes and sizes from around the world and explained  in China, Japan and Indonesia to Europe and the United States, tea had made an indelible mark on the history of the world. While tea and history have been intertwined for thousands of years, the world’s history with the teapot is much more modern. It is a well-known fact that tea had been consumed for centuries before the first “official” teapot hit the scene around 500 years ago. One reason for the late arrival of the teapot is that tea wasn’t consumed in the manner it is today.

Nearly every tea-drinking culture has created its own vessel for consuming this ancient beverage. Similar to the acceptance of tea within society, the teapot has a history that is closely connected with class. Whether it is the prized Yixing or the more everyday Brown Betty, the teapot continues to develop with designs that cater to prevailing tea-consuming. Every tea-drinking culture has created its own vessel for consuming this ancient beverage. Similar to the acceptance of tea within society, the teapot has a history that is closely connected with class. Whether it is the prized Yixing or the more everyday Brown Betty, the teapot continues to develop with designs that cater to prevailing tea-consuming trends.

In England, this resulted in the emergence of “afternoon tea.” To meet the growing demand for teapots in the middle class, artist-merchants, including Josiah Wedgwood and Josiah Spode, quickly responded with their version of the teapot.

Surely the aesthetic teapot, designed with modern-day convenience, is on the rise, but for the purist, there are certainly enough designs to choose from. Whether you desire something antique or modern, whimsical or pure art, stoneware or porcelain, there is definitely a teapot to fit your brewing needs and your aesthetic sensibilities.


Our next meeting will be on Wednesday 11th May when Anthea Rule will present a Fashion Show by Timeless Classics.

Visitors are always welcome at our meetings which are held in the Community Centre on the second Wednesday each month (except August), but if you would like to talk to someone first, or need help to get to the Community Centre, please contact Pam Cooper, President on 01508 491674, or Lesley Sanders, Secretary on 01508 492155.