One of my favorite things in the world is a nice cold glass of sweet tea. I also enjoy a nice hot cup of chamomile or peppermint tea occasionally.
And did you know that Tea has it’s own holiday? International Tea Day was celebrated this weekend!
This special Remembrance day honors the health benefits, economic importance and cultural heritage of tea, while ensuring a more sustainable production from field to cup.
It was created to celebrate and pay tribute to the countries that produce tea to supply to the world- such as India, Sri Lanka, Uganda, Bangladesh, Vietnam and more!
But you know where Tea originated?
The story of tea begins in China..
According to legend, back in 2737 BC, the Chinese emperor Shen Nung was sitting beneath a tree while his servant boiled drinking water, when some leaves from the tree blew into the water. A renowned herbalist, the emperor decided to try the infusion that his servant had accidentally created. The tree that dropped the leaves was a Camellia sinensis, and the resulting drink was what we now call “tea.”
Did you know that before tea became a popular beverage option- it was eaten like a vegetable, or used only for medicinal purposes?
It wasn’t until the Tang dynasty that tea drinking became an art form and was able to be enjoyed by all social classes.
Today, tea is one of the top five most popular beverages consumed globally, preceded only by water, and followed by coffee, juice, beer and soda!
So in honor of the Chinese origins of one of our favorite beverages- I decided to bring you to one of my favorite objects in our exhibit of Chinese porcelain.
Teapot, late 19th or early 20th century. Chinese, Qing Dynasty (1644-1911) Gift: Bill Bomar 1981.324
This teapot is made of fine Chinese porcelain and is decorated with a floral motif and various borders in the Ming style.
It is decorated with what is called a "famille rose" color palette, which is a french term for “Pink Family”- and refers to 5 colors.
During the 19th and early 20th centuries, it was popular to use this color palette to decorate porcelain with scenes from novels or plays, with good-luck motifs or with luscious flowers and fruits. The body of our pot boasts a gorgeous floral motif- and the color and species of its flowers do have a significant meaning! We know that the colors pink and red are colors of celebration, good luck, and happiness. The red flower in the center of the pot, which is a hibiscus blossom, symbolizes Fame and Glory.
The pattern on the rim and lid of the teapot is a variation of the “ruyi” symbol. The Ruyi is a curved decorative object that serves as either a ceremonial scepter or talisman that symbolizes power and good fortune in Chinese folklore. Ruyi would be placed as decoration in the home or in temples that could symbolize power, peace, and happiness. The curved "ruyi'' symbol, like the one on our teapot, frequently appears as a motif in Asian art to symbolize luck and good fortune.
Our highly decorative teapot is certainly functional, and would likely have been used at very special occasions.
And I’m not sure if this lovely artifact has brought us luck, but it’s definitely a tour favorite!
I encourage you to come enjoy a closer look at this gorgeous artifact in our galleries.
Cheers!
Kellie Bellah
Visitor Services Assosciate