Antique, rare teapots exhibited in Saudi Arabia

The world’s oldest and most valuable traditional teapots are displayed in this exhibition.

The price of some of those sets might exceed 130,000 Saudi riyals, which is equivalent to around $30,000. Teapot craftsmen spend four months to turn brass into a container for preserving Arabic coffee. Engraved on the pots are images of plants like cardamom and clove. Teapots differ in their size and capacity and can be used for serving or preparing the drink.

“The Quraish teapot is distinguished first by its rarity, second the shapes engraved on it, and third the time it takes for manufacturing which could take up to four months. It is one of the rarest and most precious teapots in the world. This one I am holding for example is for 20,000 riyals.”

Renting those teapots costs 1,500 riyals per day. Those customers use teapots for decoration in their guest houses as a symbol of generosity and respect for guests. Others choose them for their light weight and their quality.

“Some people buy teapots for decoration, while others actually use them. Some people want a specific teapot without caring how much it would cost.”

“The exhibition houses the rarest kinds of teapots. We have Quraish, Ihsaa and Hijaz teapots. Quraish teapots are the rarest like this one.”

Some teapots can be more than four centuries old. The manufacturers of Quraish, Mecca, and Baghdad teapots as well as other kinds were keen to produce distinctive pieces adorned with unique engravings similar to the ones dating back to the Ottomans’ age.