Julia’s World of Teapots has it all

If you would like to see the world through teapots, then Julia Welch of Woking is the lady to see.

Touted as ‘Julia’s World of Teapots’, Welch has approximately 385 teapots from all over the world, depicting various countries, animals, themes and collages. “When I started out in 1997, I had 55 teapots,” said Welch. “I said if I ever get 200 I’ll have lots. I never dreamed it would go that far beyond.”

Her house has cupboards and shelves proudly displaying her collection for all to see. She has teapots in the shape of a rocking horse, Christmas tree, snowmen, Santa and reindeer, rabbits, dogs, ducks, zebras, elephants, dragons, money, man on the moon, fruit and collages to makes villages. And those are just a few. ?My collection consists of wind charms, Christmas tree decorations, candle burners, wall hangings, pins, stickers and ornamental pots of all sizes and shapes,? said Welch.

Her teapots came from all over the world — the United States, China, Japan, India, Norway, Thailand and England to just name a few. ?I have one called the carousel that is only sold in England,? she said. ?But my sister went to a garage sale and bought it off a lady who was selling her deceased mother?s items. It?s actually part of a series, but was only sold in England.?

Her collection not only ranges in variety, but also in size. Her smallest teapot is just a quarter inch high and is known as ?Kyusu?, while her largest is a brass teapot that is one foot high. She feels a cat and mouse teapot is the ugliest one of her 385 teapots. Her oldest teapot is one that was purchased at an Antique Collector?s Show in Saskatoon and it?s an electric teapot from the early 1900?s. The second oldest is one that belonged to her mother-in-law, called a ?Brown Betty?. Her third oldest is an English Rose Garden which is from 1951. ?But my favorite one is the first one that started my collection,? said Welch. ?It?s a Chinese Duck bought from McBeans in the Prairie Mall. I call it my Peking Duck. My husband was the one who bought it for me.?

Welch?s collection brings out the child in her. Christmas and birthdays are always special when she receives another teapot as a gift and since she is so fond of her teapot collection, that is one gift that she usually receives. ?I?m just like a little girl at Christmas when Santa Claus comes. When someone sends me one, I get so excited. I never know what I am actually getting. I?ve been lucky over the years as I very rarely get a duplicate. In the nine years since I?ve been collecting them, I?ve maybe had seven duplicates. When I do get a duplicate, I just give it away to someone else,? she said

Each teapot has a special meaning to Welch. It?s for that reason that she takes extra care and caution with her collection. ?I enjoy each and everyone of them,? she said. ?There are so many happy, treasurable memories to each one. This really is my world of teapots

(this article was taken from centralpeacesignal.com)