Carl Hall’s collection of more than 200 teapots is steeped in a fondness for rare and whimsical tea serving traditions.
Sixty of his tea pots arenow part of the Wellington County Collects exhibit at the Wellington County Museum and Archives, the second in a series featuring unique collections of county residents.
“We are very pleased to have such an amazing collection on exhibition,” said Amy Dunlop, the museum’s curatorial assistant.
“Each teapot is unique in its own way, ranging from Donald Duck, I Love Lucy, golfers, nursery rhyme characters, cars, couches, washing machines and even a teepee.
“Carl has nearly 200 teapots in his private collection and has chosen some of his favourites to display in the archives over the summer.”
Hall, a longtime resident of Mapleton Township, says his teapot collection began approximately 50 years ago, while working at an auction, when a particular piece caught his eye.
“A tea pot came up at the auction. It was a blue old lady and it was musical. It played a song, I think it was Tea for Two,” he said. “Being a collector and being at auction sales, you see something that sparks your eye and that started it.”
The collection grew and the search for special tea pots continued with support of friends and family who would seek out treasures on his behalf.
“The first piece I bought I now have two complete service sets,” Hall said.
The collection has evolved into themes, such as fairy tales, homes and farms, people and occupations, like a giant English Billy teapot.
“My basement is full,” Hall said, noting many are for display purposes only.
“I’m a lot more particular now. I look for something unique and different.”
His favourite pieces include a double-spout teapot and one collectable, numbered teapot that bares the manufacturer’s name, Hall said.
“It was hard to choose what to take,” said Dunlop, who narrowed the collection down to 65, at the archives, and then down to 60 for the final showcase. One of Dunlop’s favorite teapots is a teepee, produced in England by designer Betty Silvester, who created the collectible piece after the Second World War as a tribute to the Aboriginal peoples that fought with the British in previous wars.
“I absolutely love them all. I think they are unique. It’s a fun collection and it’s something fun to exhibit and that’s what we want this exhibit to be,” said Dunlop.
Hall admits the collection is a passion.
“They are not very expensive at all but are made to be looked at and enjoyed,” he said.
The exhibition opened May 18 and will be on display inside the archives until Sept. 8.
Admission is by donation weekdays from 9:30am to 4:30pm and on weekends from 12 to 4pm. The Wellington County Museum and Archives is located on Wellington Road 18 between Fergus and Elora.
For more information or to learn more about presenting a collection in the exhibit, contact Amy Dunlop at 519-846-0916 ext. 5232 or amyd@wellington.ca.
