Diary of a Teapot Collector, by Sue Blazye

Hi everyone.

Welcome to my contribution to the new Cardew site in the disguise of a diary. You will be glad I am sure, that I am only going to write about one of the loves in my life - Teapots.
I was very excited when Peter came to visit us at Teapot Island to talk to us about what they wanted to do in the future. Particularly, when he offered me the chance to do two things that I have been thinking about doing for a long time.

A. Spread the word about things going on in the world of teapots. Also, I am sure with trepidation, he said I could write without being censored.

B.Even more exciting for me, he asked me to help them collate a catalogue of all the teapots produced by most of the major manufacturers. It will be posted onto their website for the collectors to see. As many of you know, I have always wanted to do this. A couple of my friends and myself produced a C.D several years ago. I am asked quite regularly by people when I am going to do the next one. I had hoped to put it onto my own website, but the expense has stopped me. Luckily because Cardew have a large database of collectors they will be able to recoup some of the costs through their annual subscription charge.

Ok, the most memorable weekend in December for many of us has got to be the Cardew’s Christmas bash. It was a lovely meal, and the wine flowed freely. There were lots of new faces, who had turned out because it was the last event of the existing Cardew Club. I felt extremely honoured to sit next to Paul Cardew for the evening and I plied him with questions about his past. He enthralled all of us at our table when he told us about his adventures and cleared up a few mysteries.

Fifty lucky collectors received an early Christmas present, a beautiful matt white bird which looks remarkably like a robin to me. It feels similar to the finish of the Lenox pots that I get from America. By the end of the Open Day, 44 of the 50 Limited Edition Christmas Trees had been sold. It cost Gold Members £410 after we had received our discount. A bit expensive maybe, because some of the harden collectors didn’t buy it even though it was thought to be the last pot Paul was going to produce.

Later in the evening we were pleased to hear that he is now going to do a couple editions of 99 pieces through this coming year. He will be selling directly to the collectors. Since he will not be giving part of the selling price to the trade, perhaps it will enable him to keep them at an affordable price for all the loyal collectors.

We also had the opportunity to buy 40 set of ‘Tinies’ which were around the tree in the coloured version, and 10 in the matt white finish of the robin. Lots of collectors like the ‘Tinies’ because they take up less room.

Changing the subject now to Gary Seymour, who is busily making the models for the next couple of designs. Hopefully he will find time soon to put his latest ones onto his website, so that the collectors who couldn’t make it to his Open Day on 6th November can at last get a look at them.
I am looking forward to seeing the third in the ‘hidden series’ after being most impressed by the mysteries in the Trojan Horse and Egyptian Mummy.

Gary is going to stop selling to trade this year. The collectors will have to buy through his website or from him personally. I will happily give you his number if you can?t find it. I will be going to the trade show this year to see what’s available. I am looking forward to meeting the new owners of the Swineside Company. I shall also be pleased to meet up with Tony and Anita Carter. I didn’t make it to their Open Day in December because it clashed with the Cardew bash so a lot of us regulars missed out.
Rumour has it that this year the teapot makers are going to get together so that it doesn?t happen again.

Ok, last of all? please, please, please help me to make this work by giving me any info that you hear about teapots so I can spread the word. I was disappointed by the lack of response to my Teapot Island site. Hopefully, being included under the wing of the most well known teapot manufacturer will make my aim more achievable.

Below are some more pictures from the event: