More than 30 years ago, Vitasoy Group founder and then urban councillor KS Lo suggested conserving Flagstaff House - the former headquarters of the Commander of the British Forces - by turning it into the Museum of Tea Ware. Mr Lo also donated 600 tea sets collected from China and overseas to the museum.
To celebrate the 30th anniversary of Asia’s first tea ware museum, a year-long exhibition “From Soya Bean Milk to Puer Tea” is being held to showcase more than 80 tea sets and chart Mr Lo’s story as a tea connoisseur and collector.
The tea drinking culture goes back several centuries in China. Each tea set reflects the unique culture of the time when it was made. Purple clay teapots are one of the most sought after collectors’ items.
Renowned Ming dynasty potter Shi Dabin crafted a teapot with such a unique and interesting shape that it sparked a big change in the way teapots were made.
“The teapot is shaped like a monk’s cap with a lotus crown. Shi Dabin started a revolutionary change in the style of making teapots, moving from large to small sized and towards a trend that emphasised personalised designs,” Hong Kong Museum of Art Curator Raymond Tang explained.
Unique designs
After Shi Dabin, potters tried to push the limits when it came to the design and craftsmanship of tea ware. A teapot titled “fish metamorphosing into dragon” that late Qing dynasty potter Shao Daheng created is an outstanding example.
“There is a Chinese saying: ‘The carp has jumped over the dragon’s gate’, meaning someone who becomes successful. An interesting feature of this teapot is when you pour from it, the dragon head decoration on the lid moves, so if you keep pouring, the dragon’s tongue will stick out,” Mr Tang said.
Purple clay actually comes in many colours, but is commonly brown or red. Visitors to the exhibition will see an eye-catching mango-shaped teapot of vivid yellows and greens. It could easily be mistaken for the real fruit, if it wasn’t for the tiny spout.
“If visitors bring their children, they will like this mango-shaped teapot made by a female potter called Jiang Rong. She created this classic shape which is widely copied now,” Mr Tang said.
Craft revolutionised
How did the potters achieve the yellow and green hues?
“Different minerals in the purple clay generate new colours during the firing process in the kiln. Potters from late Qing dynasty to the 20th century were always striving to revolutionise the craft,” the curator explained.
Nestled inside Hong Kong Park, the Flagstaff House Museum of Tea Ware, formerly known as Flagstaff House, was built in the 1840s. It is the oldest colonial building in Hong Kong still standing in its original spot.
A quirky title was chosen for the exhibition, “From Soya Bean Milk to Puer Tea”, to tie in the venerable tea sets’ with the museum’s 20th century benefactor, Vitasoy’s KS Lo.
“Apart from the ancient tea sets, we have also displayed some Vitasoy glass bottles. You can also visit a special corner showcasing some objects people may remember from their childhood, just like the aftertaste when you drink good tea. At the same time, it also serves as a reminder to the public that we’re celebrating the museum’s 30th anniversary,” Mr Tang added.
