It seems an age since I last put any teapots on my blog. It’s getting more and more difficult to find unusual ones that I like. However, I have lately come across ceramicsist artist Kathy Waggoner and I find her work intriguing. Her works explores identity, in myth, form and stereotypes. Why do I like these – probably because they ARE stereotypical – but they have an indefinable edge to them.
every woman?
You can also see the artist’s interest in native cultures and her patronage to third world women. Highly decorative and very tactile looking. She is not really a teapot maker, more a ceramicsist. A lot of her work can be seen here
It’s been quite a while since I featured some teapots on my blog, so here’s a few more unusual ones I have come across. The first unusual one is made of fur. I have already done a post about Merritt Oppenheimer and her iconic fur cup and saucer (here). I have absolutely no information about this teapot apart from the obvious fact that it is made of what looks like black fur which does look real (and most likely is). I like the tactile qualities of the piece very much.
knitting yarn teapot
Yet another teapot with no information to go on apart from the obvious reference to knitting. I really like the design and glazes to this pot, which has been well planned and thought out. A very unusual piece of ceramic indeed.
I was torn between 3 very different pieces to include (one being a bird’s nest teapot), but decided to go with this other birds nest one because I really like everything about it. The colours and the glaze are sympathetic to the subject matter and there is something so countrified and pleasing about it. I like the speckled eggs in the nest drawing – and I probably would like whatever is on the finial – but I can’t make out what it is!
I don’t know whats going on, but I have had a few underwater themes on my blog recently. From underwater photography to underwater sculpture. Now I have found teapots that have a kind of underwater organic surface. I love these teapots from Susan Collett. They look like they have just evolved, grown under the sea into these coral shapes. So unusual and beautiful – really organic and calcified.
GJM Fossil teapot
The teapots from GJM Ceramics are unusual, quirky and have a great play on words. Teapots like ‘Relativitea’ and ‘Calamitea’ are great fun and very aptly titled, but it is the teapot called just ‘Fossil teapot that I really like because of its patina and simplicity of patterns. I like the way the ceramicist has made the surface and the colour he has glazed it. Unfortunately I could only find a very small image of this teapot, the larger version is available onsite. The above mentioned are all from the ‘Novelteas’ collection from GJM Ceramics.
OctopusTeapot01 Miel-Margarita Paredes.
I found this last teapot on a site called ‘Everything Octopus’ which is indeed a collection of everything Octopus based! The actual teapot is from a favorite of mine Miel-Margarita Paredes. who makes very unusual toys, oddities, helmets and curiosities – and much more. I featured her work some time back. This octopus teapot is a real work of art – the sort of thing that could be passed on from generation, becoming an heirloom – yet always looking contemporary.
It seems an age since I featured any teapots on my blog. To tell the truth, the unusual ones are still out there but I do like to group them, so they have at least some connection with each other them into little group and finding that theme or connection can be a problem sometimes. So I am going for a period this tiem with a contemporay connection.
age of jazz by cliff
The Art deco period began in 1925 and lasted until the 1940s. It was an international movement and was a rather glamourous and stylishly elegant time. The style is unmistakable – a mixture of cubism, futurism modern and freedom.
oakland set by lorna Bailey
When people think of Art Deco, they think Clarice Cliff. I do like her colourful designs, along with Suzy Cooper’s. But there are contemporary ceramic artists about who are still inspired by the art deco movement and it shows in their work.
Lempicka
My favorite Art Deco artist is Tamara de Lempicka (I’ve written about her here) her painting epitomised the period. The art deco style is geometric and based on mathamatical shapes, the style lent itself to not only the decorative arts, but some wonderful arcitecture.. This is a fabulous momnet in time and I shall try to do it justice at another time, at the moment I want concentrate on the teapots.
I like the quirky balance of this teapot by Lorna Bailey
Lorna Bailey was born in 1978 Staffordshire and was inspired by a heritage of Charlotte Rhead, Clarice Cliff and Suzie Cooper. Bailey has even been called the next Clarice Cliff. Flattering as that accolade is, the artist much prefers to be known by her own merit.
Glascow Peony half circle by Lorna Bailey
You can see that the artist must surely have been inspired by Charles Rennie Mackintosh. Not only is the stylised rose motif one of Mackintosh’s trademark, the title really gives it away! I think this is a thoughtful transcription of his style.
I enjoy the sharp thrusting angle of this teapot by lorna Bailey
I like to see the past reinterpretted like this. It’s inspiring and in a way comforting to see the natural progession of the past marching on through design. Nothing is new – everything has it’s source of inspiration. It’s good to take parts of the past and weave something for the present which in turn will inspire the future. Continuity.
Tim Burton’s ‘Alice in Wonderland’ film is released March 5 this year and from this clip, it looks a lot of fun. I’m not keen on Alice’s off the shoulder dress though – is there any need really? The visual effects look very interesting though. I found the floating Cheshire cats floating head on the trailer quite frightening. But so it is in the book, as it fades away and only the grin is left.
cardewTeapot
Surprised to see Tweedle dum and Tweedle dee in the new film though as they are charaters from Alice though the Looking Glass. So it would seem that both books and characters have been lumped together. But, back to the teapots. It is easy to see why the teapot serves as a vehicle to Alice. The teapot is central to the tea-party where we get to meet some interesting characters – especially the Mad Hatter.
I actually have this Tony Woods teapot
I love the wild Mad Hatter teapot by Paul Cardew. Cardew seems very fond of Alice – he’s done lots of teapots with using the Alice theme.
Paul Cardew MadHatter Teapot
Paul Cardew Alice teapot
I’ve cheated really with this image. It’s actually a favor box and I think it’s lovely! Available HERE
favor box
This unusual teapot has ‘Drink Me’ on the side – obvious really! But I like the reference to the time on the lid and the hearts on the handle.
I thought that it was time for a little summing up of what’s been happening on here. This is my 427th post now. So far (fingers crossed) I have managed to blog very nearly every day last year. My goal for this year is not to miss one day out. What am I finding to blog about? ooh all sorts of interesting and some not so interesting things…….
Styx
I thought it was about time I put a little of my art on here, plus an explaination of what ‘echostains’ actually is. Weird and wacky design is carrying on and so are the teapot posts. Just when you think you have seen it all – someone comes up with yet another innovative design.
Richard Flores 'Stormin Norman teapot
January also saw the launching of my other blog ‘Bookstains’ just press the magic button on the right and get there instantly! That blog is dedicated to reading challenges, authors I have readand a mapping of my Gormenghast journey as I re read Titus Groan and Gormenghastand write my findings and any new insights I find. I shall be having a spring clean on here – if Spring ever comes and a bit of a sprucing up. I may even have to change my theme as the formatting is erratic at times – sometimes the text comes out massive when I save a post.
Here are some more fascinating teapots, this time with a more organic feel to them. I think the above ‘Treepot’ is really magical! It looks like it has come straight from the forest, – but it hasn’t, – it is indeed ceramic! Treepots are made HERE
Madrone teapot
For tree teapots ceramicist Kathy Pallie takes some beating. These teapots are so beautiful – they are more works of art than functional: made to be touched and gazed at. For more stunning teapots, her site is HERE William Morris did say
“Have nothing in your house that you do not know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful”
tree stump with chameleon detail
I’m in love with this ceramic (yes ceramic) teapot by Cheng Dong Zhu! This teapot, shaped to look like a tree stump is so convincing. The colouring and markings in particular show great attention to detail. It is a part of a tea set and comes with four cups. You can buy it here and view the cups and more information about how the set is made HERE
Euphoria Borealis, Acrylic on canvas aprox 3ft x 4 ft
Time for a little update. ‘Echostains’ itself is going well, many are reading but, not many are commenting – don’t be shy come forward and show yourselves! ‘Bookstains’ my other blog is coming along alright, its early days yet, but I am enjoying doing it. Although I keep saying it, I really do need to put a piece of art work on here from time to time. So here you are – I give you ‘Euphoria Borealis’ (or Belly Laugh) which was the last painting for my graduation exhibition. I had just completed a 10,000 word Dissertation, a 5000 word one about my personal project (‘Echostains’) which included 10 large paintings and 2 x 500 word essays as well as course work. Wouldn’t you be laughing? Of course I have much more recent work, it’s just a case of getting around to scanning some sketchbook stuff or photographing the bigger pieces, but I am determined to do it!
p5
As for my altered book which has disappeared yet again….one day I shall actually finish it! I will have to revise the way I have documented this book. I think the best way would be to make a gallery especially for it, so each page is linked with its own artist reference (because the project is an art project, underpinned with art history) and each pages should follow the other, like in a real book. Lol! I can see me making a blog just for my altered book!!!….not a bad idea
The material for my teapot articles are getting a bit tougher to find. My favorite one lately is the making of the chocolate teapot. I shall carry on though. There’s no shortage of material for the weird and wacky design section either, so I will keep that going. Some sections, like places are now a thing of the past, but this year we are hoping to go to new places nothing planned yet – except to see Iggy Pop in London in May, but do hope to fit a couple of exhibitions in whilst we’re there.
