image from the Newark Museum Website
The teapot above is from the Exhibition at the Newark Museum in New Jersey, The Teapot, featuring sixty six variations of this vessel. The exhibition chronicles the history of the teapot, beginning in China as a functional vessel several hundred years ago. The Arts and Crafts movement in the 1800’s brought forth the idea of objects being works of art as well as being functional. In the twentieth century, non-functional teapots emerged as sculptural objects, often leaving utility behind.
Footed Basket-Handles Teapot, 14 x 9.5 x 6″, Suzanne Crane
Suzanne Crane has wonderful line of pottery, which includes the Footed Basket-Handles Teapot. Though the handles look like wrought iron, they are clay. Visit her website for more nature-inspired pottery: http://www.artscraftspotteryandtiles.com/
“Printemps Thé au Café du Métro”
Springtime at the Metro Café by Jacques Vesery
carved/ textured cherry, acrylics, patinated bronze
Jacques Vesery is an artist/sculptor living in Maine. His vision and inspiration begins with repetitive patterns derived from the ‘golden mean’ or ‘divine proportions’. See more teapots, as well as other sculptural work on his website: www.jacquesvesery.com
Teacup, by Hironobu Nishitateno
My favorite teacup by Nanten Pottery. Owner Nishitateno creates all of his own glazes, using ash from various plants, feldspar, and various clays. This particular glaze, above, is so soft and smooth. Drinking tea becomes a zen experience, from holding the warm mug, feeling the texture, appreciating the beautiful green color of the tea within, and meditating on the spiral center.
Strange how a teapot can represent
at the same time
the comforts of solitude
and the
pleasures of company.
-Zen Haiku
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I had the pleasure of sitting in on a Japanese tea ceremony a few years back. It was something else! I am a huge tea fan and have very fond memories of sitting with my Grandma enjoying a warm cup of tea. It’s the ultimate way to extend hospitality…Lovely post!
Thank you! Glad you liked it. We have to schedule that in one day, tea and good company, and talk of glass . . .
Linda, I just saw your post! Nishi and I are flattered that you included his teacup…glad you love it! We can’t get enough of the smoothness and simplicity of that glaze, so we’re using it for many pieces again this year. Lovely haiku, too…it says it all.
I’m so glad that you found the post. I still enjoy tea from that cup every day!