A little-remembered fad in teapot design was initiated in 1916 by the English manufacturer Cube Tea Pots, Ltd. Though it might seem outlandish, the Cube Tea Pot was actually quite functional when used on cruise ships, where a round teapot might easily tip over. Along with square sugar bowls and square creamers, the design fit tightly into square trays. In ceramic copies of the Cube Tea Pot, traditional printed or painted patterns were applied to the novel form.