The owners of Kent’s Teapot Island are selling their entire collection of 8,000+ novelty teapots, thought to be the second largest collection in the world.
It could make £80,000 at an online sale at Hansons Auctioneers’ Kent saleroom this month.
The popular tourist attraction was the brainchild of life-long teapot collectors Sue Blazye, 75,and her 71-year-old husband, Keith.
In 2003 they opened the Teapot Museum and café, now both closed, on the aptly named Teapot Island, on the River Medway near Yalding.
In its heyday it welcomed up to 20,000 visitors a year from around the world, with UK celebrities including Bradley Walsh, Tim Spall, Victoria Wood, Eric Knowles and, in 2014, the then Prince Charles and Camilla.
But, after leasing the café, the couple has decided to sell the monumental collection.
Sue Blazye said: “We have decided to lease the café for five years, but the new owner didn’t want to take on the teapots, which is why we have made the decision to sell.”
The collection is made up of thousands of designs including those shaped as politicians, the royal family, animals, vegetables, Disney characters, Christmas, celebrities and vehiclesranging from red London buses to speed boats.
In countless rooms behind dust-defying perspex a Winston Churchill teapot stands alongside Saddam Hussein, while The Beatles rub shoulders with Horatio Nelson and characters from Coronation Street.
Sue continued: “It is sad to lose them, but life goes on. I don’t like to think of them being separated. It would be great if they went to a museum, whether here or in the US I don’t mind.
“We have had so much fun over the years. I have loved sharing my collection with people. Everyone who visits it just says “wow”. But now it’s time to let it go.”
Hansons Auctioneers’, Justin Matthews, said: “The collection shouts commitment and quality. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to purchase a world-renowned collection offered as one lot in a timed auction.
“It is a great honour to be trusted to sell it and we are expecting worldwide interest, possibly from museums. If a tea manufacturer wanted to buy it, then that would also be fantastic.”
Sue’s collection started 42 years ago in 1983 when her grandmother gave her a blue and brown terracotta teapot that had been a wedding gift. Soon after her aunt gave her another.
Sue said: “To be honest, if she had given me anything I would probably have collected it, but it just happened to be teapots. And once I started, I just had to have everything. I couldn’t stop.”
Sue bought her first novelty pot, a Cardew Royal Albert soon after, and both she and Keith became obsessed with novelty teapots.
Over the next 20 years they scoured fairs and online sites for more making frequent trips to manufacturers around the UK.
Soon the teapot tally stood at 3,000 with designs on every shelf, in every cupboard and even hanging from the ceiling.
In 2003 Sue and Keith, left their Sidcup home, to fulfil a lifelong dream and move to Yalding to open café before building an extension to house the growing collection.
As well as thousands of novelty teapots, the collection includes examples by great makers including Doulton and Minton, as well as Clarice Cliff.
They also have three limited-edition giant teapots in the art deco style by renowned maker Lorna Bailey which can retail for £3,000 each.
Sue said: “When Charles and Camilla visited in 2014 after the floods she bought a teapot in the shape of a camel. When I asked her why, she told me because camel was short for Camilla.”
Sue, who has pledged to hang on to 180 of her favourite designs, continued: “We have spent thousands on the collection over the years. The larger teapots all retail for at least £75, so there is great value in the collection.”
And Sue’s favourite pot?
She said: “It used to be the first one that nan gave me. But after Princess Diana died, the Diana teapot became my favourite. I thought that was the right thing to do. Although I did make sure it wasn’t on show when Charles and Camilla visited. I don’t think Camilla would have liked it.”
A similar pot, by Richard Parrington, sells for up to £500 online.
The Teapot Museum has featured on a local Monopoly board and appeared on television programmes including Bargain Hunt.
It has also scooped two entries in the Guinness World Record, being beaten to the top spot by a Chinese entry.
Sue said: “But that wasn’t really fair because it went to a village which made teapots – not a collector like me.”
Collecting may feature in the couple’s future, but on a smaller scale.
Sue joked: “I will have to think about what to collect next. Maybe something smaller – like diamonds! Failing that we might just be collecting memories.”
The couple will continue to live on a property on the site, with tea making on a much smaller scale.
Sue said: “We’ll display the remaining teapots around the house. But, as for using them, we tend to use teabags.”
Auction Results
Auction: The Teapot Island Collection Auction
Auction date: Ending 13th October 2025
Location: Hansons Kent Saleroom
Auction contact: [email protected]
Catalogue/bidding: www.hansonslive.co.uk | www.the-saleroom.com
