Novelty teapots on show at Morpeth

First you’ll have to choose from the Eiffel Tower, Leaning Tower of Pisa, astronaut, toaster, espresso machine or the pouting red-lipped woman from which to pour your cup of tea.

There are plenty of animals to choose from, a rabbit in a hat, storm in a teacup, cuckoo clock, a toilet and the aptly named Teatanic ship.

These are just some of the nearly 4000 tea pots, not to mention almost 500 tea cosies, on display in Morpeth this week for the Novelty Teapot Exhibition and Tea Cosy Challenge.

Exhibition co-ordinator Kylie Richards told Topics the event began 22 years ago with about 50 teapots scattered around Campbells Store.

A few decades later and with contributions from around the country and the globe, it has grown to a staggering 3997 teapots.

Ms Richards said the teapots came from China, Sri Lanka, Japan, America and of course Old Blighty, from where many Australians inherited their love of the hot brew.

There are also contributions from Australian potters including teapots shaped like women’s heads with different coloured hair, glasses and lips.

Award-winning Central Coast ceramic artist Gail Steele pitched in for the exhibition with a teapot featuring images from 30 nursery rhymes, along with a handy key for identifying the stories in case you get stuck.

If teapots and tea cosies aren’t enough there are also paintings of teapots, tea towels, snacks to have with tea and of course, tea.

The Novelty Teapot Exhibition and Tea Cosy Challenge runs until August 26 at Morpeth Gallery, Green Street, Morpeth. Open 10am to 5pm. Free entry.