An evening with Brown Betty: the archetypal teapot

“The chances are, if I asked you to draw a teapot from memory, you’d think of a shape not too dissimilar from the Brown Betty. That’s because it’s one of the most manufactured teapots in British history.”

So says Ian McIntyre who, as part of his doctorate, has curated an exhibition at Vitsœ of form and function – refined over generations – to coincide with London Design Festival 2016.

On the evening of Monday 19 September Ian McIntyre will introduce the exhibition and touch on the history and origins of Staffordshire’s red clay, from its first refinement to the later development of the Brown Betty teapot.

Robin Levien, Royal Designer for Industry and partner of Studio Levien, who has described the Brown Betty as “one of the best teapots ever made” will talk us through some of his favourite design details. While Timothy d’Offay of Postcard Teas will produce three teas reflecting different moments in the 300-year evolution of the Brown Betty as part of a tea tasting session which will characterise the social history of tea drinking during these periods.

Limited to 30 tickets. First come, first served.