Egoist teapot is a perfect example of the endless love that Brits feel about this drink. This exclusive teapot is now in the Guinness Book of Records as the world’s most expensive teapot, with the price of $3 million. It was unveiled at Mosiman’s restaurant in Belgravia by Nirmal Sethia, founder of the N Sethia Foundation and Newby Teas of London. Milanese jeweller Scavia made this teapot from 18-karat gold, which is completely covered with fine precious stones – 1,658 D and E colour grade diamonds and 386 rubies, with a central 6.67 carat Thai ruby framed in the shape of a sun.
The lid features natural 20.70 carat ruby beading and the handle is made of mammoth ivory. Scavia’s team spent six months working on this project.
Otherwise, Egoist teapot was created in order to raise awareness globally of the historic and cultural importance of tea, a magical refreshment that has lasted over millennia and is a part of the fabric of civilisations from the Tang Dynasty to the present. Egoist is part of Chitra collection, which was founded in memory of Mr. Sethia’s wife, Chitra.
The collection is dedicated to all things related to tea, and contains over 1,700 rare teapots and other similar pieces, historical and modern, including Lord Nelson’s own silver pot.The entire collection is now worth about 212 million euros.
Unlike a number of other items that are the most expensive in the world, this teapot is not only a decorative item. Mr. Sethia has already brewed up in the Egoist, and for the occasion chose a rare Muscani tea from Newby Teas of London while lamenting having been outbid for a £5 million lot of even rarer Chinese Da Hon Pao rock tea from the Wuyi Mountains in China.