This souvenir china teapot, possibly dating from the 1930s, is inscribed with the words ‘A present from Eynsham’. Souvenirs such as these were popular in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, a product of increased travel and tourism. They usually commemorated places, landmarks or events, and were an affordable keepsake.
Other than water, tea is the world’s most-consumed drink, and teapots have a long history, dating back as far as the 14th century. Tea began to be consumed in Britain in the mid-1600s – initially for medicinal purposes. By the early 1700s, it was a prestigious drink served in drawing rooms by wealthy ladies. It was not until the mid-19th century that tea became reasonably priced enough for people throughout society to afford it. Its consumption rocketed and tea-drinking – with milk and sugar – became a daily affair.
As the price of tea fell, so, too, did the price of tableware, including teapots, helped by mass production techniques. Before the advent of teabags, of course, every household brewed tea by steeping tea leaves in hot water – so a teapot was an important household commodity. You can see, then, how an object such as this souvenir teapot from Eynsham would have been a popular purchase, either for oneself or as a gift for others.