assignment #4

Source: This picture accompanies a how-to article on HGTV's (Home and Garden Television) website that describes the process of making a gigantic teapot in a numbered step-by-step fashion. (http://www.hgtv.com/crafting/oversized-teapots/index.html)

Technique: Without divulging trade secrets, the article explains the general strategy to making this tea pot. First a sketch is made to not only flesh-out an idea for a piece but to estimate the amount of clay required for each segment. The clay and glaze is just referred to as "stoneware clay" and "stoneware glaze" on the materials list. A wheel is used to create the body of the vessel in two segments. The spout and handle are thrown while the decorative elements are hand-built. Everything is later assembled with finishing touches like thumb tabs and some of the decorative vines are added. The lid is wheel thrown.

Critique: This teapot it enormous! I'm not sure that the picture accurately informs the viewer of its girth but the instructions call for a 50" and 35lbs handle to be made. I find it odd that a form so connected with a purpose (serving tea) can be appreciated much more as a piece of art only when its practicality has been completely lost. Of course, art is not practical! With the amount of planning and material that must be dealt with to make this piece it is no wonder that this type of thing is a rarity; however, I can't help but think, "would this pot be less beautiful if it were of ordinary size?" If this were a usual-sized teapot it would probably not warrant a double-take; which reminds me of the documentary we watched in class that touched on the idea that perhaps the only when it is in use is pottery its most beautiful. If this idea is true then this teapot can never reach its full potential; I doubt anyone will use this kettle for tea, or do anything with it other than stare at it. The glaze is not extraordinary in capturing depths of color and the shape in general is generic for a kettle.
Upon my first look at this piece it occurred to me that this pottery is so American in a boldness for lack of an explanation that can be summed up by the saying "bigger is better"; however, as I think about it more, the piece may actually be trying to break through to the American viewer by calling attention to beauty in the mundane (the artistry in the everyday teapot), in affect, making this otherwise common-place ceramic object an unavoidable, gigantic, attention-hogging example of functional elegance, despite its obvious lack of functionality. The article that accompanies the picture does not delve into these "why" questions but instead satisfies the "how".