The first teapot
In the earliest history of tea drinking, tealeaves were simply boiled in open pans. It was the Ming Dynasty that led the fashion for 'steeping' the leaves and therefore led to the need for a covered pot that would allow the leaves to infuse and keep the liquor hot. Ewers, resembling the modern teapot, that for centuries had been used for wine were now adapted to tea brewing.
By the time the Dutch started carrying cargoes form China back to Europe, the concept of the teapot had developed further, the teapots that they brought back were small, with broad bases and wide spouts, which would not clog easily. As Europe had never seen such Chinese stoneware, it took Dutch potters until late 1670's to reproduce the heat-resistant pots. Two of The Netherlands' most successful potters the Elers brothers settled in Staffordshire and established the English Pottery industry.