A luxurious teapot commissioned by a UK charity has been recognised by Guinness World Records as the world's Most valuable teapot.
Named "The Egoist", this shining gem of a kettle commissioned by the N. Sethia Foundation (UK), with sponsorship from Newby Teas of London is dripping in diamonds from every angle.
Made by Italian jeweler Fulvio Scavia, the pot begins with a handle comprised of molded mammoth ivory.
Ivory is a tricky medium to begin with, but dealing with materials from the Ice Age involves a lot more delicacy and care.
Once one gets past the shock of seeing prehistoric materials, you can focus on the glamorous body of the pot, which has a base of 18k yellow gold and parts of gold-plated genuine silver.
Impossible to ignore, the gold is embedded with 1658 brilliant diamonds and 386 authentic Thai and Burmese rubies; adding a crimson punch to the pot’s exterior.
The teapot forms is owned by the N Sethia Foundation, a philanthropic organization that provides education, spiritual activities, and medical research in London.
The designer of the glittering treasure was the charity's founder and Chairman of Newby Teas, Nirmal Sethia, who wanted to create a teapot as a tribute to the world's finest teas.
The extravagant teaware form's a part of the foundation's "Chitra Collection" of antique products, which is the largest collection of tea accessories, with some artefacts dating back to 10th Century BC.
The Egoist was presented with a Guinness World Records certificate on September 6th at Mosimann's in London, the location of the oldest jewellery house in the world.
A shining work of artistry, it goes now down as a record of immense historical and financial value.
