Stephen Grimmer on sun 11 feb 01
Hi,
I'll put my neck on the block here. I have a theory that a lot of (not
all) people make teabowls because it's too dang hard to make a good cup with
a handle. Call it a teabowl, and one can get away with poor potting because,
hey, it's about zen stuff.
I'm not pointing fingers at anyone in particular, but at the scene in
general. I own a number of real dandy teabowls that are very successful as
pots, first and foremost. I don't make teabowls, myself. Bourbon cups,
however, are another story. . .
steve
--
Stephen Grimmer
Southern Illinois University at Carbondale
> From: ILENE MAHLER
> Thank you for sharing I love teabowls....Here is a subject for
> discussion...Why do we all love and make teabowls...Ilene in freezing
> Conn.. on a break from making teabowls to go with the teapots I just
> made.........
>
> artimater wrote:
>>
>> Please come on by my new website and check out the teabowls I made with the
>> help of John Logan(magic clay)......Too bad ya'll didn't get to read the very
>> spiritual post I made in reply to Tommy Humphries about the little bowl he
>> made that was special....I saw you all did get to read the flip reply I made
>> to the "coup de rectum" author...I guess it's better to write about things
>> that don't mean much......
>> Anyway please follow the link below and check out the tribute to John
>> Logan.....This is a site I meant for people to see and not just a test like
>> the one you guys rushed out to see against my advice and then bashed really
>> good
>> http://www.geocities.com/artimator/index.html?981829516600
>> artimator
>> nother beautiful day in Dallas....I even got Yahoo's page builder to
>> work(wow)
>> artimator@earthlink.net
>>
Stephen Grimmer on mon 12 feb 01
Vince,
I guess I wasn't as clear as I wanted to be. (Nothing new.) I completely
agree that a _good_ teabowl is harder to make than a handled mug/cup, and
that there are plenty of people who make them (good teabowls). I own
several. When I wrote "Zen stuff," I was being facetious, imagining the same
misshapen lumps as you, I'm sure. I guess I feel that a lot of what are
passed off as "teabowls" are simply cups made by folks who haven't learned
to form a good handle.
Boy, I'll bet I'm really wading in deep here...
Best,
Steve
--
Stephen Grimmer
Southern Illinois University at Carbondale
> From: vince pitelka
> Steve -
> In my experience it is much more difficult to make a good teabowl than it is
> to make a good mug with a handle. Our expectations of a mug are fairly
> simple, and a beautiful handmade mug with a comfortable handle is a very
> fine thing, but the teabowl involves some special considerations. Any
> potter can throw little bowls off the hump or pinch or coil build them to
> make something referred to as a "tea bowl," but there is a lot more to it
> than that. It is hard to define, because exceptional historic teabowls span
> such a range of size and style. "Zen stuff" has nothing to do it. Plenty
> of teabowls are just ugly little mishapen lumps of clay.
>
> There are plenty of people on this list like Mel, John Baymore, John Neely,
> Craig Martell, Dannon Rhudy, and others who make fine teabowls, and I'll be
> interested to see if they agree regarding the challenges of making good
> teabowls. I can't imagine anyone choosing to make teabowls as the easy way
> out, because there's nothing easy about it.
> Best wishes -
> - Vince
>
Stephen Grimmer on mon 12 feb 01
Cindy,
I think you hit it on the head here: a good teabowl is devilishly hard
to make. Maybe when I'm all grown up, I'll be allowed to make some.
I drink tea (loose, made in a Yi Xing pot) daily, but have never been to
Japan or China. I have read only a couple books on the Asian tea traditions.
I guess I don't feel I understand them enough to really make them properly.
I'm afraid my teabowls would be handle-less cups for drinking tea--teabowls
in name only.
Steve
--
Stephen Grimmer
Southern Illinois University at Carbondale
> From: Cindy Strnad
8< Snip
> Actually, it's my understanding that proper tea bowls are quite difficult to
> make. I make a lot of tea bowls for test pots, but I'm sure none of them are
> up to true ceremonial standards, as I've never seen a real tea bowl in 3-D
> space.
>
> Cindy Strnad
> Earthen Vessels Pottery
> RR 1, Box 51
> Custer, SD 57730
> USA
> earthenv@gwtc.net
> http://www.earthenvesselssd.com
don Ablett on mon 12 feb 01
Hi Vince,
I start each day of throwing by making a few teabowls and find it to be a great
loosening up and playful exercise. I also make mugs with pretty good handles.
They are different objects. They appeal to different people and are used in
different ways. I think teabowls need more thought as each one is unique. Because
your hands are going around them, each one also needs to be comfortable to hold.
Sorry but I disagree. I like to think that as craftspeople we are up to the
challenge of good handles and not looking to avoid them.
Carol-Ann
vince pitelka wrote:
> > I'll put my neck on the block here. I have a theory that a lot of (not
> > all) people make teabowls because it's too dang hard to make a good cup
> with
> > a handle. Call it a teabowl, and one can get away with poor potting
> because,
> > hey, it's about zen stuff.
>
> Steve -
> In my experience it is much more difficult to make a good teabowl than it is
> to make a good mug with a handle. Our expectations of a mug are fairly
> simple, and a beautiful handmade mug with a comfortable handle is a very
> fine thing, but the teabowl involves some special considerations. Any
> potter can throw little bowls off the hump or pinch or coil build them to
> make something referred to as a "tea bowl," but there is a lot more to it
> than that. It is hard to define, because exceptional historic teabowls span
> such a range of size and style. "Zen stuff" has nothing to do it. Plenty
> of teabowls are just ugly little mishapen lumps of clay.
>
> There are plenty of people on this list like Mel, John Baymore, John Neely,
> Craig Martell, Dannon Rhudy, and others who make fine teabowls, and I'll be
> interested to see if they agree regarding the challenges of making good
> teabowls. I can't imagine anyone choosing to make teabowls as the easy way
> out, because there's nothing easy about it.
> Best wishes -
> - Vince
>
> Vince Pitelka
> Appalachian Center for Crafts
> Tennessee Technological University
> 1560 Craft Center Drive, Smithville TN 37166
> Home - vpitelka@dtccom.net
> 615/597-5376
> Work - wpitelka@tntech.edu
> 615/597-6801 ext. 111, fax 615/597-6803
> http://www.craftcenter.tntech.edu/
>
> ______________________________________________________________________________
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Cindy Strnad on mon 12 feb 01
Hi, Steve.
Well, I think a lot of people make "warming mugs" because handles are
difficult for them. But I did have a lady specifically order "warming mugs"
not long ago. It's a matter of suspicion when the potter doesn't make
*anything* with a handle. Then, you kind of wonder.
Actually, it's my understanding that proper tea bowls are quite difficult to
make. I make a lot of tea bowls for test pots, but I'm sure none of them are
up to true ceremonial standards, as I've never seen a real tea bowl in 3-D
space.
Cindy Strnad
Earthen Vessels Pottery
RR 1, Box 51
Custer, SD 57730
USA
earthenv@gwtc.net
http://www.earthenvesselssd.com
Jocelyn McAuley on mon 12 feb 01
Speaking for myself in regards to teabowls...
I view them as miniature blank canvases. I find them great for carving
and glaze experimentation.
They are also more versatile in their use than handled cups: they are
bowls for ice cream, drinks, soup, and to hold my ingrediants when
cooking.
Plus, they stack! And by not having a handle to get in my way (it's not
that I can't make handles...) I can tell if my hot chocolate is too hot
before putting my lips to it.
Cheers,
Jocelyn
Oh yeah, and they're comforting to make... aka easy.
--
Jocelyn McAuley ><<'> jocie@worlddomination.net
vince pitelka on mon 12 feb 01
> I'll put my neck on the block here. I have a theory that a lot of (not
> all) people make teabowls because it's too dang hard to make a good cup
with
> a handle. Call it a teabowl, and one can get away with poor potting
because,
> hey, it's about zen stuff.
Steve -
In my experience it is much more difficult to make a good teabowl than it is
to make a good mug with a handle. Our expectations of a mug are fairly
simple, and a beautiful handmade mug with a comfortable handle is a very
fine thing, but the teabowl involves some special considerations. Any
potter can throw little bowls off the hump or pinch or coil build them to
make something referred to as a "tea bowl," but there is a lot more to it
than that. It is hard to define, because exceptional historic teabowls span
such a range of size and style. "Zen stuff" has nothing to do it. Plenty
of teabowls are just ugly little mishapen lumps of clay.
There are plenty of people on this list like Mel, John Baymore, John Neely,
Craig Martell, Dannon Rhudy, and others who make fine teabowls, and I'll be
interested to see if they agree regarding the challenges of making good
teabowls. I can't imagine anyone choosing to make teabowls as the easy way
out, because there's nothing easy about it.
Best wishes -
- Vince
Vince Pitelka
Appalachian Center for Crafts
Tennessee Technological University
1560 Craft Center Drive, Smithville TN 37166
Home - vpitelka@dtccom.net
615/597-5376
Work - wpitelka@tntech.edu
615/597-6801 ext. 111, fax 615/597-6803
http://www.craftcenter.tntech.edu/
David Hendley on tue 13 feb 01
As far as I know, I don't think John Logan was 'into' teabowls.
He made small bowls, but not 'teabowls'.
He wasn't a 'tea bowl' kind of guy. Now, iced tea was a
different story, and that was his drink of choice with
a good chicken fried steak.
I can't help but think about John, up there in the great
beyond, getting a chuckle form all these 'teabowl' e-mails
associated with his name.
Arti's tribute to him is very nice.
In 20+ years of potting, I don't think I've ever made a
'teabowl'. Haven't made a teapot since the early 80's.
I just don't drink hot tea and haven't been able to get
around to it, in spite of Mel's assertion that it is
my 'duty' to make teabowls. I do make a good iced
tea tumbler; finger ridges for a good fit with the hand,
and plenty of room for the tea even with lots of ice.
BTW, on another recent topic, John was quite proficient at
'one handed throwing', since he only had one arm. He would
throw with his thumb and fingers opposing each other, take
it to the maximum reach, then add a coil and throw some
more. His largest pots were well over a foot tall.
--
David Hendley
Maydelle, Texas
hendley@tyler.net
http://www.farmpots.com/
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