Tea's importance

This Chinese looking 'tea-taster' was one of four sculptures that once sat on top a tea warehouse in Stafford’s Market Street (see photo behind the sculpture).  It dates back to the early nineteenth century.
It is one of the artefacts on show at the 'Made In Staffordshire' exhibition at the county Archives offices.
The fact that the warehouse advertised itself in this prominent way – ie with specially commissioned sculptures (made of cement) – shows the amazing importance of tea in the lives of people two hundred years ago.