STAFFORDSHIRE TEAPOTS
Ahmet Cuneyt Er
Anadolu University,School for the Handicapped
The tradition of drinking tea was first encountered in China. The invention of the teacup based on the cups with a nose was also observed in Chinese ceramics. Today, as in the past, China continues to produce beautiful teapot specimens. Various archaeological excavations in China revealed teapots and these works are exhibited in various museums. These artifacts, which can be considered as the ancestors of teapots, provide information about the first examples of the teapot and the phases it went through until the present. For ceramists and historians who are interested in tea culture and tea ceramics, the starting point of research is China.
As tea expanded outside China, the teapot reached several European countries, and the teapot form was introduced to several ceramic production centers and these centers included the teapot form in their production.
Throughout history, teapot form has always been a popular form in ceramics production centers around the world. One of the most important amongthese centers is Staffordshire in England. With the development of the ceramics industry in England, especially during the 18th century, ceramic teapots, one of the most important pieces of British culture, were also open to change and development. In the 1750's, nearly 130 ceramic workshops were operational in Staffordshire.
In Staffordshire several artists in the ceramic industry, among them Josiah Wedgwoog, always included the teapot form in their production.
In 18th century Staffordshire teapots, it is possible to observe the influence of Chese Yixing teapots, even imitations were produced. Especially the red stoneware ones could be considered direct imitations. It was not possible that elegant Yixing teapots that were imported from China since the mid-17th century would not affect Staffordshire producers.
Yixing teapots inspired Staffordshire masters not only with their color and unglazed form, but also with the simplicity of their form, the elegance of their handles and holders, and the perfection of their size.
The Staffordshire teapots were influenced extremely by Yixing, but Staffordshire also produced novel teapots in a variety of forms and techniques due to innovative industrialists and artists such as Wedgwoog and Whieldon. These innovations were not applied only on the body, but also in the glaze, decoration and firing. For example, it is possible to consider Josiah Woodgood's creamware, agateware, Jasperware, and caneware and many other forms as teapots.
In the introduction section of the present study, the first examples of teapot form that were produced in China were introduced. The study was finalized by including the teapot specimens produced in Staffordshire after the teapot form arrived in England in the chronological order.
Key words: Ceramic, Staffordshire, Teapot