If it Looks Like a Teapot...

...it probably is but it could be a coffee pot or even a chocolate pot.  Can you spot the difference

Recently a friend asked me to look at a silver service she had found and explain its pieces.  There were two pots which seemed one too many for a single service.  Hmmm....what do you think?

Well, this one is the teapot.  Fatter base, shorter spout, smaller overall size are the clues that tell us its proper use.

And this one is the coffee pot.  Taller stature, long spout and slimmer overall size give it away.

Now, to make matters even more confusing, look at each of these silver services.  How many pots do you see?  And what about that second bowl?  Looks like another sugar bowl without a lid.  Well, in case you are wondering what all these pieces are for, here's the explanation.  The three different pots are for tea, coffee and the one on the warmer in the middle is for hot water.  This was used by the hostess to dilute stewed or bitter tea or to weaken overly strong coffee.   The water in the middle pot was kept warm by the candle burning beneath it.  The extra bowl?  Well, that's called a slops pot.  Yes, you read that correctly.  When your hot beverage was no longer hot enough to suit you or was not to your liking, you simply poured the contents of your cup into the bowl and refilled it with something possessing more taste appeal!  So there you have it, more information about tea pots than you ever thought you needed to know but now do know!