HEALTH AND SAFETY .......59

TEAPOTS, TEA SETS

Teapots are the most difficult shape to design, as they are made from several components; body, spout, handle and lid, all of which have to work together visually and also function well. The teapot body can be spherical, cylindrical, cubic or cone shaped, or it might have a more organic form. Before attaching a spout, holes can be pierced in the body wall to act as a tea strainer. It is also a good idea to put a hole in the lid to let air in and enable smooth pouring without glugging. The lid needs to stay on while pouring, so a deep flange can be added to lower the centre of gravity. The handle can be added to the side opposite the spout or over the top of the teapot, and can be made of different materials such as wood, metal, wire, akebia vine or cane, attached to clay lugs. Side handles attached at 90° to the spout are sometimes used in small, oriental-style teapots. Large teapots sometimes have an extra lug handle placed sideways above the spout to make it possible to lift using two hands. One of the most important features of a teapot is the shape of the spout and how well it pours. Cutting the end of the spout so that its inner edge is sharp can ensure that the teapot doesn’t drip by cutting off the flow abruptly when the teapot is set down. Spouts that are thrown on the wheel sometimes twist during firing so the end should be cut at an angle, slightly lower on the left if looking at the spout end on, so that it ends up symmetrical after firing. The tip of the spout should be higher than or level with the highest level of liquid in the teapot.

Tea sets can be made with matching teapot, milk jug and sugar pot, all with unified form and colour.

Top: Bone china slipcast teapot by Alexandra Nilasdotter. The squat teapot and flat lid give it a very contemporary feel, especially with a short pouring snip (a short spout). © Ruben Schildt Centre: Stoneware teapot by Lexie Macleod with slip decoration in the form of a flattened globe. ©Dylan Vaughan Bottom: Tea set by Sue Pryke and her husband John Tildesley, from the Mr & Mrs Collection with Wild + Wood, slipcast in earthenware and bone china. © Sue Pryke

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1: This thrown stoneware teapot by Pottery West has a cylindrical form and handle over the top. The clay knob has been left free of glaze so that it doesn’t slip when gripped. © Pottery West 2: Slipcast coloured porcelain teapot by Sue Pryke. This teapot has a classic globe-shaped body and curved swan-neck spout. 3: Teapot, cup and spoon by Sue Pryke and John Tildesley, from the Mr & Mrs Collection with Wild + Wood, slipcast porcelain. Polished on the outside, it balances the natural beauty of wood and ceramic, giving a pared-back, simple aesthetic. The teapot has an oak knob and steam-bent handle made by John. © Sue Pryke 4: Conical porcelain teapot by Patia Davis with an apple wood ash glaze fired to 1300°C (2372°F) in a gas kiln. ©Patia Davis 5: Slab-built embossed pine branch teapot by Sarah Pike, made in the style of a metal kettle with a steel wire and reclaimed wood handle. © Sarah Pike 6: Teapot, ash glaze, reduction-fired stoneware by Tom Knowles Jackson. This large teapot has a lug handle about the spout so that it can be lifted when full using both hands. The main handle has a thumb stop to prevent the hand slipping. Photograph by Article Studios, © Tom Knowles Jackson 7: This small, carved teapot by Sophie Moran has a Japanesestyle side handle. © Sophie Moran