collector knows story of each teapot

For South Hill resident Donna Young, the “one that got away” is a Dresden china milk pitcher.

Young was in an antique shop in Vancouver, B.C., when she discovered a delicate Dresden tea set. Captivated by the gold trimmed, floral china, she purchased the teapot with its cream and sugar service, but not the matching milk pitcher.

“I sure regret it now,” she said with a sigh.

Young has a small collection of unique teapots.

In 1960 a British friend gave Young her first pot. The small brown piece is etched with a gold leaf pattern.

“She used to serve me tea in the formal British style,” Young recalled. Her collection gradually evolved from that first gift.

Young’s home is filled with teacups, Depression glass and pretty china. Recently she added a fluted ivory teapot adorned with blue, rust and yellow flowers.

“It was a birthday gift to my mother from my grandmother in 1936,” Young said. “It’s not made by a famous maker and probably was a dime-store purchase, but it has great sentimental value to me.”

Young’s teapots aren’t just for show.

She hosts an annual tea for a local social sorority. Each year she chooses a theme for the tea party.

One year, she gave a Hawaiian themed party and served mango-flavored tea. She’s hosted Southern, Western and garden themed teas as well.

It’s become an anticipated tradition.

Many of her teapots are gifts from her sorority sisters. Her collection may not be as large as some, but Young knows the story behind each piece, and her guests feel special when they’re served tea from such lovely china.

Her husband, Virtus, has found the only flaw in Young’s collection.

She said he recently asked, “Where are you going to put any more?”