Tea is the most popular beverage in the world after water. Before inventing the tea bag in early 1900s, loose tea was the main form of tea consumed all over the world. Though tea bag, RTD Tea consumption have increased during last few decades, loose tea consumption is still dominating worldwide. There is no joy other than enjoying a steaming pot of tea. As The Irish Times had reported, for the month that’s in it, when all things culinary are celebrated in The Irish Times during November’s Food Month, it is almost fitting that on November 2nd, a teapot achieved a whopping £2,062,750 (€2,415,963) including premium.

The “exceptionally rare and important imperial Beijing enamel melon-shaped” receptacle from the Qianlong period, dating to about 1738, from the collection of Mrs EA Parry, and thence by descent, is the only example of this unique form and type to remain in a private collection. The two other examples reside at the National Palace Museum, Taipei and the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art, Kansas City, Missouri.

An archival record shows that a single enamel teapot was created and a further pair was subsequently crafted by order of the emperor; according to Bonhams, which conducted the sale, this proves that the teapot was crafted in the imperial enamel workshop early in the Qianlong reign.

By the 18th century, the craft of enamelling on metal had reached its highest point, with forms and designs reflecting the emperor’s extravagant and opulent taste.

The art of sabrage, the technique of opening champagne bottles with a sabre, has fallen out of favour, presumably due to health and safety concerns along with guaranteed wastage of expensive grog. The practice became popular in France, where the sabre was the choice of weaponry during the Napoleonic wars for the Hussars, who had quite a bit to celebrate with their victories across Europe.

A superb “sabre deluxe”, which belonged to Napoleon’s eldest brother Joseph, achieved £312,750 (€365,441) at Bonhams’ Napoleon Bonaparte sale in October.

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Reference

1. The Irish Times: https://www.irishtimes.com/life-and-style/homes-and-property/fine-art-antiques/a-teapot-for-2-4m-you-ll-need-a-cup-of-tea-after-buying-that-1.4725928