Can anyone tell me what this is?

Jackie Smith
by Jackie Smith
I was recently given this pot in a basket. It looks like maybe a very old tea pot but I can't figure out why it';s kept in a basket. Any help? It's made in China & the basket is padded to fit the pot perfectly.
  25 answers
  • Kyleigh Gray Kyleigh Gray on Nov 30, 2013
    Maybe to keep it warm
  • Kim Campbell Kim Campbell on Nov 30, 2013
    Looks like a tea cozy to keep it warm. I wonder if it at one time had a handle, as then it could have been used to serve tea to the workers.
  • Patricia Miller-Darrow Patricia Miller-Darrow on Nov 30, 2013
    Oh..love it! Good for you! I wish it were mine!
  • Michelle Eliker Michelle Eliker on Nov 30, 2013
    It's a tea cozy basket without the lid.
  • GrandmaCarol Speight GrandmaCarol Speight on Nov 30, 2013
    I believe that the basket at one time had a lid also that was "padded" that sat on top of the teapot that also had a lid. Probably of an "era" that IF you were the owner of such a "fine piece", you were definately a person of means!... please keep us posted if you get confirmation of the true identity of your "treasure".
  • Therese C Therese C on Nov 30, 2013
    These were generally used to keep tea warm when taken to the garden, on a picnic, or at the bedside of a sick person. This was well before the use of thermos. A beautiful keepsake to hang onto for years.
  • Diane Johnson Diane Johnson on Dec 01, 2013
    Looks like once the teapot was placed in, the cups were encircled around it. Most definetly it had a handle, and probably a basket lid too!
  • Patricia W Patricia W on Dec 01, 2013
    I think the pot was stored in it.
  • Donna Tam Donna Tam on Dec 01, 2013
    The basket is definitely to hold the tea pot, which is used to keep the tea warm. It should have a lid for the basket, which would make sense to keep the tea warm. I have one and have used it for years...the tea stay very warm for quite a long time! They can still be bought today, but you would have to go to your city's Chinese district to find it.
  • Elizabeth Burrows Elizabeth Burrows on Dec 01, 2013
    I have one given by Chinese neighbours 20 or so years ago. They are still sold in Chinatown in Toronto and one can get a set of small no-handle cups to match. Keeps tea warm much longer than our lovely knit and quitlted cozies. Not an antique but lovely all the same. Enjoy!
  • Arline S Arline S on Dec 01, 2013
    To keep the tea warm.
  • Sue Vernon Sue Vernon on Dec 01, 2013
    The basket is a "fancy" tea cozy. It would keep tea hot.
  • Dotty W Dotty W on Dec 01, 2013
    the pot is a saki pot
    • April E April E on Dec 03, 2013
      @Dotty W sorry but that is not a saki pot it is a Chinese tea pot and tea cozy the 2 blue marked pots are what a saki pot looks like. and the second picture is what she has which is as mentioned above a Chinese tea pot and cozy
  • Jacie1948 Jacie1948 on Dec 01, 2013
    if it is a vintage tea pot they were from around 1800/1900. They were meant to be a picnic type basket. They usually had a top on the tea pot and on the basket to keep the tea warmer. Often times they had at least 2 cups in the set. However, you can find them on-line replica's starting at about $30.00 or so. Look to see if is says anything on the bottom of the tea pot or basket like " painier" who made them. Hope this helps.
  • Therese C Therese C on Dec 01, 2013
    ALERT!!! You may want to have this item checked out. They are currently going on E-Bay for anywhere from $50 to $395. If it were me, I would definitely have it checked so it can be properly preserved.
  • Loy213654 Loy213654 on Dec 01, 2013
    It's a hot water pot and a keep warm basket commonly found in Chinese homes in those days. U can use it for keeping Chinese tea or water. Guess it's more an ornamental piece now that electrical ones are the norm.
  • Jackie Smith Jackie Smith on Dec 02, 2013
    The only writing is in Chinese, so I am at a loss. I'm sure the pot had a lid at one time, but I can't find any marking where the basket had a lid. I can tell it is old by the bamboo wrap on the pot handles. I am going to see if I can find a local antique dealer that might be able to tell me more. Thanks everyone for your help!
  • Joline Cosman Joline Cosman on Dec 02, 2013
    The tea pot def had a lit at one time. Maybe cups, too. I had a basket with a cover that I purchased in Hong Kong in 1978, and it came the same way. Use it for your tea, and enjoy it even if parts are missing. That cozy will keep your tea warm for a while !!!
  • Elizabeth Burrows Elizabeth Burrows on Dec 02, 2013
    Lid of china pot and lid for basket both missing. Mine was bought in the 1980's. There will be earlier models I'm sure but this one is not old - can tell from the china pattern. Off course I'm old too and we may agree re what years make items old. Eliabeth ( see note above).
  • Joie Joie on Dec 02, 2013
    It is called a Tea Cozy - to keep the pot warm. Likely had a lid but you can use a nice napkin to top it off!
  • Sharon Clyatt Sharon Clyatt on Dec 02, 2013
    keeps tea warm
  • Kimberly Kimberly on Dec 02, 2013
    They would take hot tea out to the fields for the people. The cozy kept the tea hot.
  • Silvia Kceri Silvia Kceri on Dec 02, 2013
    No idea what's the basket for. By the way, mom had this pot, she used to say it wasn't a teapot, it was meant for hot cocoa.
  • Larry Collins Larry Collins on Dec 03, 2013
    We saw these when we lived in Singapore. Some had lids and handles for transporting; others, like this one, did not have a lid and was intended for home use. The teapot definitely had a lid. From the pictures on the pot, I would say this one is Japanese, not Chinese.
  • Cindy Roman Cindy Roman on Dec 03, 2013
    My guess would be that the basket was being used as a teapot cozy. Used to keep the tea warmer for longer, especially since the lid is missing. The pot itself looks Japanese from the 40's/50's, very popular during that time and many were brought or sent back home during the war.. @ Silvia- Chocolate Pots were usually taller and more slender...at least my knowledge of them ;o)