The Exotic Teapot

M.C. Escher is known for his graphic shapes which created a tantalizing maze.  Through sheer determination the Dutch artist started with one subject then repeatedly positioned into an amazing motif tiling.  An algorithm created to emulate his process is successfully shown in the teapot image to the right.  Escher progressed to add two objects then three as he perfected his complex tiling artwork.  Only four circle shaped patterns were created throughout his career.  The teapot image below was produced applying Escher’s non linear warp method. 

Margaret Bohls, curator for “Teapots:  Function, Formal, Narrative” has written an article to ceramic artists.  The purpose was to share with them the reasons for creating that magnificent object referred to as the teapot.  She writes:

 The teapot is, arguably, the most visually and culturally loaded pottery form. Trade, fashion, social class, nationalism, and industry, have all contributed to the layers of cultural and historical meaning inherent to this particular cultural artifact. Being at the same time an aesthetic object and a utilitarian object, the teapot also carries all of the potential and all of the contradictions inherent in the field of contemporary ceramics.  

 Margaret addresses the various avenues a ceramic artist can focus on when deciding how to design their teapots.  Besides functional these include:  the aesthetic challenge, the physical relationship to the body, the historical or story-telling perspective and that of decoration.   

After reading the article and with a cup of tea in hand I realized that I was looking at my teapot collection so to gain a greater insight from the artists designing the ones displayed on my shelves.  

This UK ceramic artist has made the teapot his object of choice.  Since 1988 Ian Paul Rylatt has been making a living creating these vessels.  Ian finds the teapot simple yet complex.  His designs emulate the concept.   His Horizontal teapot, shown here, is uncomplicated with its crisp linear shape and one colour glaze.  Conversely, Ian made the lid and feet spherical, a flawless composition of intricate detailing.   

This contemporary, colourful 12-cup porcelain teapot is from the Franz Collection.  The luminescent blue, green, white and orange glazes are lead free.  And, even though the live peacock is awesome when exposing all its feathers, this teapot is as brilliant for its creative shape.   Each vessel is hand painted and stamped.    The collection also has a sugar bowl and creamer for a complete tea set.

Robbie Bell graduated with a degree in music; he gained employment as an organist and choir director.  When moving to the sub tropics, Robbie decided to open up a Bed & Breakfast; in addition to continuing his organ playing.  He gained some fame after publishing a recipe book; this increased visitors to the inn.  To draw more customers to the B&B, Robbie began to offer fine arts evenings in which local artists could display their pottery.  From this, he began collecting ceramic teapots.  Lastly, he began creating his own pots; hence, opening up a studio called Speckled Dog Pottery, named after his cocker spaniel.   I guess you never know where life will take you.  But tea seams to remain constant in many lives.  

Wendy Mor, born in London, England, traveled the world before selecting Israel as her permanent residence.  The journey influenced everything she associates with art.  She has designed and manufactured clothes and sold her drawings and paintings.  But it wasn’t until she met clay matter that she selected her permanent media.  Now, Wendy combines or selects English, Greek, Indian, Italian and Far East cultural icons or trends as her ceramic subject matter.  This “Manjushri Teapot” is a perfect example.

This colourful teapot does not consist of colourful broken chips of glass pieced together like a mosaic piece.  Instead it is the masterpiece of glassmaker Dave Fetty from Fenton Art Glass Company.  Mr.  Fetty began his career at the gallery in 1965, perfecting his techniques through retirement age in 1998.  His talent and skills are evident in this splendid teapot.   Now he continues to teach young artists the mastery of glass making.

This contemporary white teapot was designed by Joaquim Bastos, an Industrial Design student at Escola Superior de Artes e Design in Caldas da Rainha (Portugal).   Its circular, sleek shape in basic white constitutes an unobtrusive but modern elegance.  The shiny steel stand magnifies the teapot’s globular form.   Serving white tea, pouring into white teacups or bowls would certainly harmonize and enhance the décor this teapot was designed for.

This stunning teapot by Davina Romansky is the winner of The 2009 Saul Bell Award in the hollowware category.   This category must use either silver or gold that is spun, drawn, raised and or forged.  Decorative casts or components are permissible.   This prestigious award has challenged silversmiths and jewelry designers around the world to submit innovative pieces for near a decade.  Metalsmith artists believe the teapot is the most challenging of pieces to create and relish in the accomplishment once mastered.  This one is certainly a masterpiece.

Steampunk refers to the combination of sci-fi and exploratory fiction but… with fantasy undertones.  Additionally, this style focuses on the Victorian English era only as it relates to steam power.  These teapots, made by Michael Morarity are of this genre; it has a temperature gauge, spout cover, release key and percolation window.  Tea is placed in the top hatch; when the temperature is high, the release key that controls an internal seal is manually pulled then hot water percolates through.  This rotates the key as it percolates.

Stefanie Kaspar and Christof Kaspar are the designers of this proposed functional 3-in-1 teacup.  As shown below, the red spoon is actually part of the saucer.  It sleekly appears as the spout of a teapot.  But actually the white base is a bone china teacup.  The purpose of the spoon cup is to slide a used teabag out of the cup into the bottom of the spoon saucer to hide its unsightly appearance. 

I have often wondered at what point architecture becomes art.  Is it the designer’s education that causes the transformation of an everyday object into a work of art?  Or, is the person first a born artist that chose to perfect his/her ideas by learning how to create and perfect the design via architectural concepts?  Either way, Gaetano Di Gregoria is both.  His teapots are distinguishably so.

Karin Taylor is a self-taught vibrant illustrator living in Australia.  She has drawn a series of fantasy-like drawings with her geisha girl character.  While visiting her parents who have created and nurtured an outdoor topiary of a teapot and sugar bowl, Karin came up with the idea of her character admiring a garden grown teapot spouting tea.  Karin’s drawings, available in greeting cards and on canvas, are giclee prints.  This is a process that squirts the various inks onto the median; similar to an inkjet printer but far more advanced in precision and longevity.

Since 1832 Waechtersbach has been making colourfully shaped ceramic dinnerware for everyday use.  My favorite of their patterns is the Christmas Tree, especially the teapot.  All of the pieces included in the pattern have a contemporary green tree with bright white garland that flawlessly compliments the brilliant red background.  Because of its simple design and sturdiness, the pattern continues to be chic and will withstand decades of use.

This tea cosy fits over a 5-6 cup teapot.  It is made of Alpaca wool with a stag horn button for fastening.  This piece and all other Ruth Cross’ products are entirely made in the UK.  The alpacas are reared locally; other used wools are from Scotland.  Each piece is hand crafted by British workers.  Her products are washed with eco-friendly detergent and hung to dry.  These attributes are to a certain extent what makes her tea cosies so desirable.

For some reason Jeff Campana likes to create chaos then resolve the problem with physics.  His green leaf teapot is a prime example.  He designed a teapot then dissected it for the most exceptionally functioning teapot and visual appeal.  He applied the venturi design to create a drip-less spout: at 45 degree angle, the spout tip slightly higher than the interior lip of the body, the handle pulls in close to the body and has a handle-based lid latch.  He cut the body of the teapot in leaf pattern shapes then re-assembled, stopping to use a drill bit to make holes in the body and spout for a built-in tea infuser.  This link displays each step of the detailed process…well worth a few moments of intrigue.