There are now more than 3000 teapots on display at Bygone Beautys in Leura.
Everywhere you look you will see an array of teapots: old and new, rare or common, English, Asian, Australian, German, Russian and from all over the world in various styles, shapes and tastes. China teapots, silver teapots, pottery teapots, fine porcelain teapots, cast-iron teapots – the selection is astounding.
Come in and browse, and see that little teapot that Grandma once used, the heirloom handed down through generations, the Sadler teapots that may have been a wedding gift for your mother, exotic Asian and Russian teapots from days gone by, modern character teapots and quaint little one-person, three-piece sets. The different teapot brands also read like a who's who of the collectables world: famous names such as Sadler, Royal Doulton, Shelley, Royal Winton, Meakin, Torquay Ware, Satsuma, Noritake, Minton, Wedgwood, Crown Derby, Toby characters, Bunnykins... the list goes on.
Unusual and collectable teapots include an Australian pan teapot, pieces with hunting scenes and crinoline ladies, a 'black mama' teapot, miniatures, 1940s English Humpty Dumpty teapots, Britannia metal and EPNS pieces, Art Deco styles, a commemoration teapot for the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II, Victorian Willow teapots, a Staffordshire Japanese-style piece believed to be from the Paris Exhibition, and Wedgwood creamware dating back to 1792.
From the old to the new, elegant to outrageous, miniature to large, all of our teapots are displayed in the wonderful surrounds of an antique emporium. Browse for a while or whilst waiting for that delicious Devonshire tea, or why not indulge in our famous traditional morning or afternoon tea, served with silver service and consisting of petit sandwiches, scones with jam and cream, delicate little cakes and home-made biscuits, all presented on a traymobile to your table. Served with tea or coffee poured from fine-bone china - what could be more fitting in this atmosphere?
Bygone Beautys' teapot collection was started some 40 years ago by Ron Hooper. Ron joined forces with Maurice Cooper OAM in 1992 with the establishment of Bygone Beautys Tearooms at Leura and the collection really got going, thus becoming a purpose and viewing arrangement. The collection is continually growing and can boast to be the largest private collection in the world as of June 2002. Ron has now retired, leaving Maurice as the current proprietor.