Tea is the most consumed beverage in the world and is part of the reason why the teapot has grown so much in popularity as a collectible. And if you do use a teapot, it might as well be decorative along with functional. Although most of the highly collectible teapots produced today are "useable", who would dare to put make tea in them?
Teapots have been around for well over a thousand years in Asia, but it wasn't until the Europeans discovered a way to make (hard paste) porcelain that teapots would start being created in Europe.

Meissen started producing teapots in the 18th century and Wedgwood shortly thereafter.

Teapots have been done in every possible design trend and most interestingly, the novelty design teapot was first introduced way back in the 1820s. (Although teapots in the shape of animals, flowers and reptiles have been made in Asia for many centuries.) More recently, the teapot, as in most facets of our everyday life, have gone through designs changes to reflect the art of a particular period. From the Overdone in the Victorian Age, to the Art Deco look in the 1930s, and Functional Modern in the 1960s, teapots styles reflected the taste of the era.

Figural teapots were popular in the 1930s and have become very popular again in recent years. The new figural and "vignette" teapots are being produced by many different artists/companies in the U.K. such as Paul Cardew, Andy Titcomb, Tony Carter and Wade.

Companies in the U.S. such as Fitz and Floyd, Treasure Craft, Lefton, McCoy, Lenox, Shawnee, and Vandor have also produced wonderful, functional and sculptured teapots.

The teapot is also a popular subject for many ceramic artists and can be found in galleries around the world and on the Internet. These one-of-a-kind sculptures are works of art and priced accordingly.

Prices for new, well-made, teapots range anywhere from $25. to $200. Artist one-of-a-kind teapots can command even higher figures depending on the artist, gallery and, of course, design.

You can usually gauge how popular a collectible is when knock offs start appearing at discount stores and teapots are no exception to this rule. "Cheap" decorative teapots can be readily found, but their quality and poor workmanship rarely make them collector quality. If you like the design, go ahead and get it for your collection, but do not expect them to appreciate in value or even hold their values.

As in any collectible, condition is of prime concern. Check for chips, cracks and crazing, especially if you plan to use the pot for brewing tea. It is very hard to find a lid for a topless pot, therefore according to author Tina Carter, "teapots without lids are worth very little and I do not suggest buying one without a lid except for a minimal price."

If you are traveling in Tennessee, there is a small little museum in the city hall building of Trenton. A teapot collector willed his collection to the city and the teapots are displayed there. If you arrive when city hall is closed, just go next door to the Police Department entrance. Self guided tours are available all day, all year. How is that for being a friendly town?

Want to start collecting teapots? It would be easy to get overwhelmed with the many choices available, but if you can narrow the field of interest, it will help both your budget and decision making.