Teapot Making

Making a teapot video

We have made teapots for ever. Judy made her first teapot back in the 1970's (p.s. she was very young then...) Now these pots can be made as a team. Ric will make the body and lid if it's to be thrown or pressed then Judy will add the tricky bits like the spout, handle and lid knob. If it's based on an extrusion Judy will do it all. Judy always maintains design control since she has a natural empathy with this form.

How we made this one.

Pressed bowls ready to be turned into teapot bodies	Ric builds the body from 2 bowls	Judy adds an extruded foot
A little wait for the feet to firm	Extruded tube handles firming up before fitting	Judy does the artistic bits

Why the fascination

The drinking of tea originated in China some 5,000 years ago. According to legend, Emperor Shen Nong discovered tea when dried tea leaves fell into his cup of hot water while visiting a distant region of his realm. He drank the infused liquid (as you would) and found it very refreshing. The tradition began. Tea was taken to Japan where the Japanese soon turned it into a ceremony.

The Europeans, Portuguese then Dutch took to tea, then the Americans. Great Britain was next, it being the last of the great sea faring nations to break into the Chinese and East Indian trade routes. The first samples of tea reached England around mid 17^th century. The upper classes were to see tea as a wonderful pastime.

By early 18^th century, tea was a generally accepted item of trade between America and England. The tea tax was to become the watershed of America’s desire for freedom. The event, “The Boston Tea Party” was the start of the American revolution.

By the mid 19^th century, the world was involved in a global clipper race as nations competed with each other to claim the fastest ships. Tall ships would race from China to the Tea Exchange in London to bring the first tea to auction. Though beginning halfway around the world the great ships often raced up the Thames separated only by minutes.

And so the story goes on. Tea has been with us for a long time. Generation after generation has grown up with tea, teapots and the event. It is still surrounded with ceremony.

Now the teapot, itself, is the other half of the story. The French sculptor, Arman, calls the teapot one of the key fetish objects of our time, according to Garth Clark in his book, The Artful Teapot. But, who invented the teapot?

According to National Geographic, the Mayan people were using teapot-like ceramic vessels 2600 years ago probably for hot chocolate. The Chinese started using teapot/drinking vessel in 10^th century, a single serve unglazed vessel with a spout used in a straw like fashion. The Europeans started using teapots during the 17^th century where production may have been influenced by the Persian coffee pot and the Asian wine pourer. The East India Company noticed teapots in Asia and started importing them into England in large quantities. Eventually this company took English and European designs back to China and had their craftsmen produce teapots for English/European consumption (does this sound familiar?). Meissen started porcelain teapots in early 18^th century.

Teapots have found their way into our folklore – The Mad Hatter’s Tea party, the song – “I’m a little Teapot”, Dr. Seuss’ Fish in a Teapot, Garth Clark’s “The Artful Teapot” 2001, The Eccentric Teapot by Garth Clark 1989, 2004 Collectible Teapot and Tea Wall Calendar (Workman Publishing). Then what about scientists naming a series of nuclear tests “Operation Teapot” in 1955 and computer nerds creating “The Utah teapot”, one of the first objects ever drawn in 3D on a computer (back in 1974 almost before computers were invented).

These images show Judy constructing a bent extruded tube teapot with the last one illustrating our kiln being unloaded after a reduction firing that creates those rich copper reds.

We all start out attempting to make functional teapots. It is a challenge. To be able to make all of the required bits, add them together and produce something that works nicely and looks good is a worthy aim. It is hard to achieve. Research, book reading, thinking, workshop attendance and repetition slowly cracked the problem for us. It probably took about ten years before we and teapots had some sort of understanding.

Functional Teapot Construction Rules

Along the way we picked up some pointers … (these are not original)

1. In order to lessen the heat loss when in use, the teapot needs to be generally close to spherical (a sphere has the minimum surface area for a given volume as we all remember from high school geometry).

2. Have some form of a foot that reduces the contact between the teapot and table in order to further reduce the heat loss.

3. Have an upturned neck on the body to allow easy removal of the dregs.

4. Use a counter balanced lid to stop it tumbling out during pouring. (We just extend the lid down about 3-4 cm into the pot.)

5. Put a clean hole in lid to allow air in while pouring (and watch the glazing)

6. Connect the spout as low as possible on the body to keep sieve below tea surface (this allows better flushing of the sieve between pourings. Note how many commercial teapots use an “S” shaped spout for this reason.)

7. Construct a sieve between body and spout by punching holes inwards, leaving the rough edges inside to better catch the tea leaves (watch the glazing again).

8. To achieve a quick pour teapot, make sure that the total area of the holes in sieve far exceeds the area of pouring end of spout.

9. When you trim the end of spout, make sure it is still above the highest possible liquid level or you’re customer could be in for a surprise when filling the teapot.

10. Shape the end of the spout to minimize dripping, This is usually done by ensuring a sharp edge at the end of the spout over which the tea flows. Also ensure the bottom line of the spout points downhill when the teapot is held in a pouring position.

11. If the spout has been thrown on a conventional anticlockwise wheel, trim the end of the spout low on the left to offset the slight untwisting that can occur during firing.

12. Make the handle loop big enough so that you can keep you hand off the hot body when pouring and robust enough to withstand a little rough handling.

13. Watch the weight of the pot when full. If it gets up in size then you’ll probably need a front support handle.