Art History: Moorish Teapots

The Moors were Muslim people of Berber and Arab descent that invaded Spain. The Moorish teapots were made in the 8^th century; before and during the beginning of the renaissance.  Typically they were earthenware covered with glaze made of tin ashes. Moorish teapots were also made from metal: brass, bronze, and copper.  The technique used to create this pottery is called Hispano-Moresque .The Moorish teapots were influenced by Ming pottery (1368-1644). 

Moorish teapots are typically elongated; they have long spouts, handles, and necks while their bodies are short and round. In 1879, The New York Times referred to Moorish the tea collection as consisting “of a bright brass tray, elaborately chased, whereon are placed tiny glass tumblers and a small metal pear-shaped tea-pot, in which is put half a handful of Hyson, with sufficient loaf sugar and boiling water…”