Bone china is known for being highly translucent and brittle in relation to strength and durability. It has a characteristic bone ivory coloring and is one of the hardest forms of porcelain made. It’s these fine qualities that make it a perfect material for tea pots and tea pot sets for afternoon or formal service.

Bone china tea pots are constructed basically like any other ceramic tea pot in design, size and shape. Although bone china is very strong, it is not to be heated over a direct flame. As a result, bone china teapots are for steeping and serving hot tea beverages exclusively.

The décor on bone china tea pots are either hand painted on by a master artist or printed with enamel paint for mass produced works. Even pieces created using a transfer print type of artwork are sought after by antique collectors for their delicate design and craftsmanship of fine porcelain.

Bone china tea pots are known for being delicate and having an abundance of ornate details. Care and caution should be exercised in handling because of bone china’s propensity for chipping and cracking.

These two elements make a perfect vessel for heating and serving because once warmed, the tea pot will keep beverages warm for a reasonable period of time. Most modern copper tea pots are steel lined to protect the copper from we’re and tear and any potential corrosive properties of the contents.

Copper tea pots that are steel lined have been known to last generations with daily use. Because of copper’s tendency to tarnish when exposed to air, a copper tea pot will need to be polished often to retain its original shine.

Any number of commercially available cleaning products will help keep retain the original integrity of the piece. Using copper to make utensils for heated beverages seems to have roots in various cultures with many having their own versions of copper tea pots or kettles.

In Russia and parts of Eastern Europe, elaborate urn like tea pots made from copper or other metals are known as  “samovars” and early versions were to be heated over charcoal. Modern models are now made for stove top use or are electrical and fully-self heating.

Because of the brilliance, shine and beauty of some ornate styles of copper tea pots, they are also used as decorative items, particularly in the kitchen. One distinct difference between tea pots for use and decoration is that the latter often is glazed in a protective lacquer to keep tarnish at bay while on display.

Once the English learned how to make porcelain they began to design tea pot set creations that fit with their own burgeoning tea customs. But their inventions were obviously influenced by the design of the Chinese tea pots. China tea pot sets are highly prized for their function and use in formal tea parties.

However, china and ceramic tea pot sets in general are much sought after commodities among antique collectors and tea enthusiasts. As a result, the terms “china” and “porcelain” are now used interchangeably among English speakers and generally refer to construction from the same type of material.

Tea pots made from china are known for their strength and the fact that china is pretty much impermeable to outside elements even before glazing. The properties of china make any object made from it hard, translucent, brittle and glass-like, the perfect qualities to make a decorative yet functional piece like a tea pot.

Unlike their cast iron counterparts, china tea pots are solely made for steeping and serving tea and aren’t made to be kept over any type of direct flame or heat source.

It is said that the rather ordinary looking teapot can turn all of the rainbow colors into a magical teas and that you can actually drink from it. The trick plays out with the magician placing silk scarves of every color into the teapot only to produce “teas” or liquids of each individual color.

The tea pot used in the illusion is usually made of metal and looks to be normal inside and out. It only adds to the confusion and delight of the observer when the performer offers members of the audience multi colored cups of tea from a tea pot that appeared completely empty moments earlier. Every tilt of the teapot by the performer produces another brilliantly colored liquid, much to the astonishment of amazed onlookers.

Another variation on this trick is for the performer to pour the colored liquids from the kettle first. After amazing the crowd with a tea pot that produces a range of “teas” from shades of red, blue, yellow, green, and orange, the magician then pulls open the lid to reveal a completely dry teapot inside and multiple scarves in colors corresponding to the liquids poured earlier. If the trick is performed properly.

The top handle design of the Japanese cast iron tea pot is due to the fact that these pots are designed to be heated over braziers (charcoal tea warmers fore cast iron teapots of this style) and the top handle aids in removing the pot from the fire.

These cast iron tea pots are widely known for their ornate decorations usually formed in relief in the actual casting of the pot. Japanese cast iron tea pots also come in a wide variety of colors, shapes and sizes and this along with the exemplary craftsmanship they display make them highly prized as collectors’ items.

Although the Japanese led the way in using cast iron for a heated drink vessel, the Russians also developed cast iron tea pots called “samovars” that while being esthetically very different than a tetsubin, it performed many of the same functions with similar technology.

Also variations of the iron kettle for tea have been found all throughout Asia including small iron Chinese tea pots, which bear an obvious similarity to their Japanese counterparts. Iron tea parts are not only prized for their beauty, but they are also coveted for their strength and durability over glass tea pots.

With its increased spiritual role, tea drinking along with teapots became gradually more refined. The more sophisticated forms of Chinese teapots certainly paved the way for the delicate porcelain teapots designed in Europe, the earliest known modern form created around 1680. In the early 1700’s, the creation of porcelain was discovered and advanced the crafting of teapots even further by giving yet another medium for the creation of more artistic and esthetically pleasing pieces.

The rudimentary earthen teapot has evolved into a myriad of modern forms we know today including copper, glass and even cast iron teapots. Many electric teapot varieties are also available offering ease and convenience for the user, much to the ire of may tea purists. Despite the availability of teapots in different forms, the silver teapot made popular by the English has still remained among the most used at traditional afternoon teas and formal tea parties. The simple teapot inspired an entire tea culture in the wealthy circles in Europe and America that is still evident among the elite today.

Through export and trade, tea and the early Chinese tea pots were introduced to the west and made an immediate impression on royalty throughout Europe. Soon, the practice of consuming tea spread to the European upper classes, and with it the custom of using tea pots. As tea pots became more refined, they became regarded as valuable objets d’art in their own right for their beauty as well as for their supreme design that hasn’t been greatly changed or improved upon in hundreds of years.

As a result, tea pots and their accessories have become not only a common household kitchen utensil, but artistic and ornate antique varieties have become sought after collector’s items. Tea pot sets, or groupings that include a tea pot with an accompanying plates used during a traditional afternoon tea are the most popular among tea connoisseurs and enthusiasts