China in the 1500s was the first to start tea drinking from teapots. At the time the tea was brewed with leaves in the pot and drunk through the sprout. Those teapots of the early days were purple because of the clay they were made from. Chinese businessmen introduced these teapots to Japan. During the 17th Century, China imported them to Europe.
European artists started to make their own teapots and explorers bought it with them throughout the world. The English then started making their own pure silver teapots, and as they discovered the new world, the center of teapot making became Boston.
At the time, craftsmen started fusing silver and pewter to make cheaper teapots, and then the trend spread. Here we will give you a list of the 25 most valuable antique teapots.
Table of Contents
25 Most Valuable Antique Teapots In the World
No. |
Name |
Valuation |
1 |
Zhisha Teapot Attribute To Gu Jingzhou |
$6,950,000 |
2 |
Exceptionally Rare And Important Imperial Beijing |
$2,262,402 |
3 |
Bronze Painted Enamel Teapot and Cover, Qianlong |
$924,862 |
4 |
Blue And White Teapot Qianlong |
$820,000 |
5 |
Zisha Teapot By Gu Jingzhou |
$604,717 |
6 |
‘Aishipiao’ Pottery Teapot By Gu Jingzhou |
$551,360 |
7 |
Very Rare Imperial Two-Colour Cinnabar-Lacquered |
$437,263 |
8 |
Yixing Stoneware Teapot By Gu Jingzhou |
$319,619 |
9 |
Zisha Teapot Made By Gu Jinzhou, Republic Period |
$312,517 |
10 |
WenDan Teapot With GuJingZhou Mark |
$255,590 |
11 |
Qianlong Mark Hetain Jade Carving Melon-Ridged Teapot |
$225,000 |
12 |
Kaffee- und Teeservice ‘Service I’, 1902-03 |
$166,333 |
13 |
Hetian Jade Poetry Chi Dragon Teapot |
$160,000 |
14 |
Iron Teapot |
$153,542 |
15 |
Qing Dynasty Style White and Blue Chinese Teapot |
$150,000 |
16 |
Hetian Jade Carving Poetry Tripod Teapot |
$150,000 |
17 |
Turquoise Enamel Ground Porcelain Teapot |
$130,000 |
18 |
Compressed Yixing Teapot And Cover |
$130,000 |
19 |
Japanese Gold Teapot |
$128,000 |
20 |
Royal Goat-Head Teapot |
$120,000 |
21 |
Hetian Jade Sheep-Head Melon-Ridged Teapot |
$100,000 |
22 |
16TH C Ming Zhengde Red & White Tea Pot |
$80,000 |
23 |
Antique George II Georgian Silver Kettle on Stand London 1745 Teapot |
$13,338 |
24 |
Antique George I Bachelor Solid Silver Teapot 1723 Early Georgian |
$9,576 |
25 |
Pair of Chinese Export Silver Teapots |
$14,000 |
1. Zhisha Teapot Attribute To Gu Jingzhou
Selling price: $6,950,000
Zisha teapots are one of the first teapots ever made in china from 350-million-year-old zisha core which is only found in Yixing, China. They are small, can fit in the palm of a hand, and can hold only one cup of water. The above set was sold by Harvard auction and is one of the most expensive sets ever sold. Its teapots can usually fit in the palm of your hand and hold just about a cup of water. This set has a diameter of 7.8cm, a base diameter of 11.1 cm, and weighs 365 grams.
2. Exceptionally Rare And Important Imperial Beijing
Valuation: $2,262,402
This is a rare teapot for the Qianlong period having the blue enamel four-character mark and decorated with lovely flowers with butterflies and insects. It has a gilt-bronze handle and a stout that issues from a dragon head. The base is surrounded by a painting of a mythical beast. It is only 15 cm long.
3. Bronze Painted Enamel Teapot and Cover, Qianlong
Valuation: $924,862
This teapot also has the mark and belongs to the Qianlong period. It is 13.3 cm in length and has a diameter of 4.5 cm. It is a beautiful and colorful piece with a spirally top, yellow with leaves and flowers, and a center blue design that looks like a falling star. This beautiful piece was sold for the equivalent of nearly one million US dollars.
4. Blue And White Teapot Qianlong
Valuation: $820,000
This is another from the Qianlong period. It has a height of 26.5 cm, a width of 22 cm. It is shaped like a pear with the body raising from a splayed foot and has a neck that flares into a rim. It is painted very finely with deep cobalt blue tones with fruits on a quatrefoil panel on each side.
5. Zisha Teapot By Gu Jingzhou
Valuation: $604,717
This teapot is part of the Gu Jingzhou’s Collection of Six Squares. It is 20cm in length, having a height of 9 cm and a capacity of 450 ccs. It is based on the tortoise showing how a tortoise will retract its body parts to hide from danger. It was based on the metaphor for people not to expose their high intellect or to keep a low profile. Similarly, this collection is made from hexagonal purple sand works which have a regular shape but it has six ridges giving it a cure that is perfectly blended. This pot is considered art and is said to be the most famous among Gu Jingzhou’s vessels.
6. ‘Aishipiao’ Pottery Teapot By Gu Jingzhou
Valuation: $551,360
This is another of Gu Jingzhou’s (1915-1996) pieces. He was considered a great master of fine arts in change. This potter teapot of his is one of his more quaint creations. It is 13 cm long from the handle to spout and has a height of 8 cm.
7. Very Rare Imperial Two-Colour Cinnabar-Lacquered
Valuation: $437,263
This is a purple clay teapot covered with red lacquer. It is carved with a phoenix hidden along the leafy flowery stems. It is 18.3cm long and is one of the original teapots made for the Imperial Chinese family. The design of the phoenix on each side indicates that it was either made for the Empress or the Imperial consort.
8. Yixing Stoneware Teapot By Gu Jingzhou
Valuation: $319,619
This is another of Gu Jingzhou’s works. It is a small teapot with a height of 12 cm to 16 cm in length. Its unique design is instantly noted with the body of the pot starting with a curve and ending with a straight line. The handle is a protruding point, whereas the stout is one of the smallest and widest.
9. Zisha Teapot Made By Gu Jinzhou, Republic Period
Valuation: $312,517
This is another piece by Gu Jinzhou. It is one of the smaller pieces, having a length of 18.5 cm. It has a long curvaceous neck flaring at the end. The handle is unique of being at the top, joining the front and back, rather than just being at the back.
10. WenDan Teapot With GuJingZhou Mark
Valuation: $255,590
This is another one of Gu Jingzhou’s teapots. It is called the Zhuni Wendan Pot. It has a height of 9 cm, a width of 17.2 cm, and a diameter of 11.4 cm. It is rich brown in color and has a smooth oval shape. There are so many curves and ridges.
11. Qianlong Mark Hetain Jade Carving Melon-Ridged Teapot
Valuation: $225,000
This is a teapot from the Qianlong Period in the 18th century. It has a height of 9.65 inches, length of 1.04 inches, and width of 6.69 inches. It has a mouth diameter of 3.94 inches and weighs 1083 g. It is white in color, having jade carvings, along with a melon-ridge.
12. Kaffee- und Teeservice ‘Service I’, 1902-03
Valuation: $166,333
This is made by Henry van de Velde. It is a hinged lid teapot set including a teapot, coffee pot, sugar bowl, creamer, and rum jug. It is silver and insides are partly gilt, ivory isolators. This set is the copy of the one seen in the photograph of the house in Latuerberg. It was reproduced by Henry in 1920.
13. Hetian Jade Poetry Chi Dragon Teapot
Valuation: $160,000
This is a teapot from the Qing Dynasty, from the 17-19 Century. It is a stunning ivory piece with different shapes seemingly put on top of each other and Chinese scriptures all over the body and cap. It weighs 635g, has a height of 5.12 inches, length 8.27, width 8.86, and a mouth diameter of 3.15 inches.
14. Iron Teapot
Valuation: $153,542
This is an iron pot that has a royal garden scenery of Kyoto engraved on it. It was made in Jinshoutang and is inlaid with gold and silver. It is 18.5 cm high and 15 cm wide. A pot made inlaid with gold and silver is rare, because it causes the entire body to glitter. There is a petal chrysanthemum drawn on the pot which is an imperial emblem in Japan, which makes this pot a Japanese royal treasure. The inside of the lid is delicate and shows a scene of hindered flowers. The detail behind this pot is delicate and exquisite.
15. Qing Dynasty Style White and Blue Chinese Teapot
Valuation: $150,000
This is a white and blue Chinese teapot in the Qing Dynasty Style. It has the three old beggars and Chinese poetry painted on top of it with stunning hues, depicting the scene quite masterfully. It is measured as 10″ x 4″ x 8 1/2″. It’s another beautiful teapot and it’s no surprise that is sold for such a high sum.
16. Hetian Jade Carving Poetry Tripod Teapot
Valuation: $150,000
This is another Chinese scripted teapot from the Qing Dynasty. It has a very different and distinct shape as compared to the previously mentioned teapot. This is more curvaceous in shape, with a single lid on top, three feet on which the teapot is standing, a short stout, and a smooth ivory handle. It weighs 858 g, with a height of 5.12 inches, length of 6.69 inches, a width of 4.92 inches, and a mouth diameter of 3.15 inches.
17. Turquoise Enamel Ground Porcelain Teapot
Valuation: $130,000
This teapot is from the Qianlong period. It is a turquoise enamel ground porcelain teapot having the enamel of a graffito and famille rose. It is oval with a scrolled-up handle and a curved spout. It has the seals o the Qianlong emperor. It is 6.5 inches in height and is one of the most beautiful pieces found. It has an image of a house shrouded by clouds, mountains, and trees. A stunning piece of art.
18. Compressed Yixing Teapot And Cover
Valuation: $130,000
This is a clay Zisha teapot that is made by hand using wooden and bamboo tools. This has a height of 11.5 cm. This has the mark of Yang Peng Year. The tilt beam is made from pure jade. It has a golden handle of the lid with three red stones on top. It’s a beautifully unique teapot which fetched around $130,000 at auction which is no surprise given its beauty.
19. Japanese Gold Teapot
Valuation: $128,000
This is a 62nd Dynasty gold teapot, which is made entirely of actual gold. It has a taotie pattern with a phoenix head. It is 16.5 cm in width, 20.5 cm high, and weighs 1230 grams. It is one of the rarest pieces of its kind. The taotie is considered the fifth son of the dragon and a powerful and ferocious monster, thus this image has been used as a talisman. This gold pot has the inscription “Zang Liuju Made” who was one of the well-known craftsmen of his time。
20. Royal Goat-Head Teapot
Valuation: $120,000
This is a teapot from the Qing Dynasty. It is a porcelain pot on a wooden base, with a long wooden handle attached to the pot. The base has a height of 10 cm, while the pot has a height of 10cm and a width of 12.5 cm. It weighs a total of 1721 g.
21. Hetian Jade Sheep-Head Melon-Ridged Teapot
Valuation: $100,000
This is another antique piece from the Qing dynasty. It weighs 953 g, with a height of 9.45 inches, width 7.09 inches, and length of 3.94 inches. It looks like a sleeping animal with horns protruding from the head and the handle having three extending pieces.
22. 16TH C Ming Zhengde Red & White Tea Pot
Valuation: $80,000
This is a 16TH Century, Ming Dynasty teapot. It was made with fine clay with a porcelain finish, during the reign of Emperor Zhengde. It has a shape of a deep vessel. The center body is bulbous, while the spout is like a large trumpet with an elongated moth, and the rim flares out. It has a loop handle with a thumb piece. It is decorated with red clouds, lotus flowers that seem to be bloom, vines interlocking, foliage and motifs, all auspicious, on top of a clean white background. The script on top of the pot are wishes for ‘success’. It has a height of 8.5 inches and a width of 8. 25 inches.
23. Antique George II Georgian Silver Kettle on Stand London 1745 Teapot
Valuation: $13,338
This pot was made in London in 1745 by William Grundy. It has a weight of 2554 g, a height of 36.5 cm, a width of 24.1 cm, and a diameter of 18 cm. This was made with Sterling silver. It is a George II Georgian solid silver teapot. It has an ornate design that includes scroll, floral and foliate patterns. Each side of the pot has an engraved crest inside a shaped cartouche. It has a hinged doom lid, the finial of which is impressive and the handle is scroll-shaped with a wooden section in the middle. It stands on three Rococo-style ornate feet. It still has the original burner filled inside the stand. This teapot can be securely settled to the stand by the two pings that are attached to the chain.
24. Antique George I Bachelor Solid Silver Teapot 1723 Early Georgian, 18th Century
Valuation: $9,576
This is a beautiful antique teapot made of George I style from sterling silver. It was made by William Fawdry in 1723 in London. It weighs 534 g. It has a height of 12 cm and a length/diameter of 22 cm. There is a full English Hallmark found on the underside of this pot and marked on the lids. This one is available in excellent conditions and has a patina commensurate which comes with age and use. It is a beautiful piece with a delicate and lovely engraved band, at the point where the body and lid of the teapot meet. It is supported by spread foot and has a wooden handle to pick it up.
25. Pair of Chinese Export Silver Teapots
Valuation: $14,000
These are a pair of exported silver teapots from China. Chinese export silver started getting produced in China in the mid- 18th century to the mid-20th century when the demand for teapots started to rise and people in the UK and Europe started making their own silver teapots.
Chinese started making these silver teapots in a typical European style, to meet the taste and demand of a western audience. They used melted Spanish silver, the only currency traders in china used at the time.
These teapots were stamped with the emblem of the workshop or with pseudo hallmarks to give a similar feel of English hallmarks. This teapot also bears a studio hallmark at its base. This particular teapot is unique because it is one of the older placed pots, and has fine decoration of exotic birds and flowers. Its texture is fine and seems carved. They both have a silver chain attached to the lid.
How to Spot an Antique Teapot?
The older a teapot is the more its value. You can tell how old the teapot is by looking at spout holes. Antique teapots have three or four spout holes. They also have irregular circles and slight imperfections, because they were made by hand.
Some also have the signature of the artist who made them, or the date they were made in the bottom. If a company made them, then at the bottom of the teapot would be an emblem unique to that company.
Another thing to consider is the shape and size of the teapot. Before the 1700s, teapots were round and small, because tea was very expensive. Antique teapots are also heavier because they were made from heavy materials like silver and pewter.
Conclusion
Antique teapots are in great demand by collectors. They can range in value from a couple of dollars to thousands of dollars as seen by the value above, depending on the originating time period, condition, and producer of the teapot. These pots are not recommended for use, but their intrinsic value lies in the art and history that is captured within them.
