The Artful Teapot

"The Artful Teapot" examines the form of the teapot and how it has become not only an icon but an inventive vehicle for artistic expression. The sculptor and installation artist, Arman, called it "one of the key fetish objects of our time" and, as such, the teapot has drawn widespread attention from designers and artists. The 500-year history of the teapot is represented by key works from Yixing, Meissen, Wedgwood and other producers, providing the historical background for its main focus: the creations of such leading 20th-century artists and designers as Bernard Leach, David Hockney and Keith Haring. The accompanying text provides an analysis of these works. Teapots in a wide range of media are examined, from porcelain, earthenware and ceramic, through sterling silver, glass and wire. Also included is a brief history of tea and the tea trade, and an introduction to the accountrements and customs of the world of tea.