Elizabeth Priddy on wed 13 jun 07
I think you missed the point, although I appreciate
the lead.
Searching through 14,000 images of teapots in general
is what I am trying to avoid. And not something I have not
tried, for years. I have also tried making them over and over.
I have done the legwork and it was time to just ask someone.
Working alone or from books or in deliberate isolation is
good for certain kinds of growth. Others require other eyes.
I got very good leads of specific pots, fellow potters
with good eyes that understood what I was looking for
and willing to help me find it.
That is why Clayart is so great, especially for people
like me who live way out here in interesting but off the
beaten track country.
I tried the wrapped spout and am satisfied that it is the best
of the traditional spouts for me, but I have decided to indeed
reinvent the wheel.
I am making a pot for american style tea. Bagged tea in 2-3
cup volumes. It is basicly a *steeping pot* rather than a teapot,
so it doesn't even have a lid. I have dispensed with the lid because
a steeping pot does not need one to roll the heat beck down into the pot.
American style tea is served at a drinking temperature and teabags
are designed to steep in an open cup, so no lid. A handle is still
necessary because I intend to serve the tea from the steeping pot,
as one tea bag usually makes at least 2 cups of tea without being too
dilute, and I wind up wasting half or more of each teabag because I
just don't want to reuse them. And for the pouring, I am dispensing with
the long spout. As the tea need not pour from the bottom if it is made
from a bag, I will simply make a simple beak spout to direct the flow
over the regular lid, controllling the concentration of the tea by the size
of the pot rather than the source of the pour.
So the final design for a steeping pot is a thick walled pitcher type
vessel with lugs for an overhand cane handle to act as an intrinsic
oven mit for pouring from a hot ceramic vessel with just enough room
for 2-3 cups of tea and a small beak to pour it. And of course, the
handle will be removeable for occassional dishwasher use for the item.
These things are a work in progress and I am on it. The new design
parameters actually excite me and offer a new thing for me to make.
A union of the coffee pot, the teapot, and the cold bev pitcher. Cool.
Thanks for all the help. I will post pictures on Flikr later this weekend
along with the woodkiln salt cups which are my favorite thing from it so far.
I am officially letting the traditional teapot form go. I am on the
record saying that it does not fit my lifestyle and I am not making it
any more. Sweet freedom from a dogmatic requirement of my
profession. Now that is worth some money.
I am glad clayart is back up!
Elizabeth Priddy
Beaufort, NC - USA
Natural Instincts Conference Registration Information:
http://www.ceramics.org/potterscouncil/naturalinstincts/registrationinfo.asp
http://www.elizabethpriddy.com
http://www.flickr.com/photos/7973282@N03/
----- Original Message ----
From: Lois Ruben Aronow
To: CLAYART@LSV.CERAMICS.ORG
Sent: Wednesday, June 13, 2007 4:53:25 PM
Subject: Re: the business end of the beast
Since 500 teapots is never enough, I suggest going to www.flickr.com and
putting "teapot" in the search. You will come up with over 14,000 teapots.
Some are drawings. Some are metal. One is a house shaped like a teapot.
Loads of inspiration and spouts to ponder.
...Lo
Admitted Flickr addict
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