IN today's frantic world, when most hot drinks are dispensed from anonymous vending machines, it's difficult to imagine an era when everything stopped for tea.

Yet in the days when the great ocean liners left Southampton on a regular basis, a well-brewed cuppa was a must.

And the height of cruising chic was that curious art deco invention - the spoutless Cube teapot, which came with an inbuilt handle.

Now, a Hampshire antiques expert has chronicled this unique slice of social history in a new book. Anne Anderson, a senior lecturer in fine arts valuation at Southampton Institute, claims the teapot's perfect square shape is one of the last examples of a truly European design style.

First produced in 1920, it was seen as ideal for storage in the new mass catering market characterised by London's famous Lyons Corner Houses. An oblong version, aimed at picnic hampers, was snapped up by the well-off pursuing the new hobby of motoring.

But the true heydays of the teapot were the 1930s amid the futuristic glamour of transatlantic liner travel.

The launch of Cunard's Queen Mary saw an astonishing 30,000 pieces commissioned, helping the Cube become the world's best-selling patented teapot.

Her book, The Cube Teapot, is published by Richard Dennis (price £13.50). A Southampton launch takes place on Wednesday at Waterstone's in Above Bar, beginning at 7.30pm. Mrs Anderson will be there to value any teapots brought along.

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