I have always been
interested in teapots, more as a challenge of construction and form, than the
actual use of the pot for tea. Orchestrating the body of the pot, a
"dripless" spout, lid and handle pose a variety of challenges that
make a teapot enjoyable to pursue. I first stating making teapots back in the
early 90's and was able to sell nearly everyone I made locally and through a
number of teapot shows and the studio sales. As I moved away from Cleveland, my
teapot output began to fall as it became a bit harder to sell teapots as it is
a specific niche among pottery collectors. I went from making a dozen teapots a month, to maybe two a month at present. Teapots are like jugs/pitchers, they
just don't seem to be as sought after as a number of other pots I make.
Illustrated is a stoneware
teapot. The construction of the pot centers around the paddled thrown body and
aligning the spout, lid knob and handle and then finishing the paddled sides
with a rib to sharpen the lines around the sides. Once bisqued, I will most
likely glaze the pot in temmoku and the sides in combed iron red. I really
enjoy making teapots, they are the epitome of engineering and physics for any
potter and if you can figure them out, you may well be able to figure any pot
out.
"If one is master
of one thing and understands one thing well, one has at the same time, insight
into and understanding of many things."
Vincent Van Gogh (1853-1890)
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