Surely every family has a tea party in the evening or at other times of the day. But without what it is impossible to imagine this process and not a single kitchen can do? That's right, it's a kettle. In stores or on the market you can see many different teapots for every taste. There are the simplest, but there are electric, metal, plastic, with and without a pattern - whatever! A teapot is that integral part of our life, which has forever and firmly entered our lives. And what is his story? Let's find out now.
Origin story
The history of the teapot is much shorter than that of the tea itself, because it appeared later and people simply did not need it.
Its story begins in Ancient China. Here, tea becomes a popular way to quench thirst in the 10th century. The first teapots were used to brew the drink of the same name, and the material for their base was Yixing tea.clay. A little later, the people of China adapted to the use of porcelain, which later affected this dish.
Its appearance was much different from today's teapots. It was a small pot, designed for one small portion of the drink. Later, his design was reincarnated into a more or less modern look. This happened when combining a small teapot with a vessel for wine and a coffee pot. Just from the wine vessel, the teapot borrowed the shape of the ball.
Teapot in Europe
In the European part of the mainland, the kettle appeared already in the 17th century. This was facilitated by the English king, who first tasted a delicious Chinese drink in 1664.
Europe's first teapot is a heavy and awkward vessel made of ceramic. He was significantly inferior to Chinese masterpieces. And this meant that China until the XVIII century remained the only supplier of porcelain teapots. After that, the Germans themselves learned how to make porcelain.
Since then, active production of this dishware has begun at European factories. After some time, teapots made of silver began to appear. Unfortunately, they did not last very long, as they were very hot, and this spoiled the taste of tea. And on top of that, their handles got hot.
How the shape of teapots has changed
At the end of the 18th century, the teapot acquired those features that are called classics. And in the 20th century, manufacturers strove for simpler forms and at the same time tried to increase the functionality of this dish. Even appliedsome popular art trends. For example, cubism.
Thanks to the Second World War and the subsequent crisis, the history of the teapot stopped for a while. And only in the second half of the 20th century it was possible to observe how the production of teapots began to develop anew. In the 1980s, manufacturers returned to the long-standing elegance of 18th century tableware. Classic porcelain sets have become a necessary attribute in every family, as well as the most popular gift.
As it was in Russia
In Russia, tea drinking has become not just a thirst quencher, but a whole tradition, as in China. During this activity, family problems were already solved, cheerful conversations were held with guests, and even trade deals were concluded.
Naturally, porcelain dishes and teapots were not in every family. Such items were very expensive.
A large number of teapots accessible to almost everyone were produced at the well-known Ural factories of the Demidovs and Stroganovs. At that time, they were in great demand in Russia, as well as abroad.
Of course teapots were also popular. Until the 18th century, tea was simply brewed, and therefore these dishes were made of metal. Gold and silver items were considered the best. For some time, ceramic teapots also appeared. This was facilitated by the custom of brewing tea with boiling water.
But do not think that in Russia the dishes in question had the name we hear now. What was the teapot called in the old days? A simple and funny word "vessel". Like thisinteresting story behind this required attribute.
