rayaldridge 281 Posted September 12, 2015 Report Share Posted September 12, 2015 I have to admit that I have a lot of curiosity about my fellow forum members and the sort of work they're doing. That being the case, I thought I'd post a few pictures of a teapot that came out of the kiln a couple days ago, and ask if others here would be willing to post pictures of their teapots as well. I especially like to see the teapots other potters make because I think it's one of those forms that require a certain level of skill to carry off. It's a commonly-held point of view that if you can make a teapot, you can probably make whatever else you want to make. Teapots are complicated structures, function-wise, and require a fair amount of thought and/or experience to make well. On the other hand, there are very accomplished potters who don't choose to make any teapots at all, because they require a lot of time to put together, compared to other pots. It's hard to find a decent handmade teapot for under a hundred bucks, and that probably doesn't fairly represent the amount of labor it takes to make a teapot. But for journeyman potters like me, I think making teapots is a good exercise for building skills and insight into the form. Anyway, here's my teapot. I like this one because it developed a lot more crystallization on one side than the other, so it's like having two teapots in one. Link to post Share on other sites
Mark C. 4,865 Posted September 12, 2015 Report Share Posted September 12, 2015 These are decades old ones-no new ones easy to find photo wise Mark Link to post Share on other sites
Callie Beller Diesel 2,555 Posted September 13, 2015 Report Share Posted September 13, 2015 Here's one from last Christmas. Link to post Share on other sites
High Bridge Pottery 685 Posted September 13, 2015 Report Share Posted September 13, 2015 Only ever made one teapot, don't have a photo with it finished. Terrible handle. Teapots seem far too complicated, and I don't really like tea. Treepot Link to post Share on other sites
PRankin 187 Posted September 13, 2015 Report Share Posted September 13, 2015 Here is one of the teapots I had to make for my ceramics class assignments a few years ago. I haven't made any since then. Paul Link to post Share on other sites
Benzine 1,173 Posted September 13, 2015 Report Share Posted September 13, 2015 High Bridge, Careful what you say, your government might be listening! Talk like that may make you seem unpatriotic... Hehehe I don't regularly do teapots. I made a coiple, when I started teaching, just for the practice. And I've helped students make a coiple since. I did one last Winter, as part of a child's set for my daughter's Christmas present. http://community.ceramicartsdaily.org/gallery/image/4836-tea-set-and-box-exterior/ Link to post Share on other sites
Pres 2,397 Posted September 13, 2015 Report Share Posted September 13, 2015 I am working on some now for an order for Christmas. I hope to have ten done next month. I'll post then. Some of you have seen teapots of mine on my blog. Glaze changes will be included on the new ones. best, Pres Link to post Share on other sites
Denice 764 Posted September 13, 2015 Report Share Posted September 13, 2015 Glazing some teapots tomorrow, sold teapots in the past but I don't have any photos of them. The teapots I am working on right now are pinch and coiled built with clear on the inside and Mimbres designs on the outside. A little time consuming but I'm not a production potter. Denice Link to post Share on other sites
vinks 57 Posted September 14, 2015 Report Share Posted September 14, 2015 This is my first ever small little teapot i made during the initial stages of my pottery making in 2012.......have nt made any after that.I suppose i need to give a hand on it.. Vinks! Link to post Share on other sites
neilestrick 4,608 Posted September 14, 2015 Report Share Posted September 14, 2015 Link to post Share on other sites
Benzine 1,173 Posted September 14, 2015 Report Share Posted September 14, 2015 Stop showing off Neil...hehe... Link to post Share on other sites
Joseph Fireborn 1,347 Posted September 15, 2015 Report Share Posted September 15, 2015 That last one looks familiar.... hmmmpphhh.. beautiful stuff everybody. I have never made a teapot. Maybe one day. Link to post Share on other sites
bciskepottery 963 Posted September 15, 2015 Report Share Posted September 15, 2015 So, I notice many of you use the pre-made handles for your teapots . . . for any particular reason? Link to post Share on other sites
Callie Beller Diesel 2,555 Posted September 15, 2015 Report Share Posted September 15, 2015 So, I notice many of you use the pre-made handles for your teapots . . . for any particular reason? It eats up a lot of kiln space to do a pulled overhand handle like that. If you have overhanging forms like a wide bowl with a narrow foot, you can fill up the space with smaller items. Harder to get things in the void above a pot. Personally I dislike the cane handles, which is why I covered it a bit. Not an ideal soloution, but better than leaving it. Link to post Share on other sites
neilestrick 4,608 Posted September 15, 2015 Report Share Posted September 15, 2015 So, I notice many of you use the pre-made handles for your teapots . . . for any particular reason? I prefer the look and feel of an overhand handle, rather than a side handle, and overhand clay handles are a pain to make, take up a lot of space in the kiln, break easily during shipping, and make it difficult to clean out the pot. The cane handles fold over to the side for cleaning and shipping, and never break. I also like the look of the two different materials. I've heard snobs who say that you should make your own cane handles, but I am of the opinion that I am a clay worker, not a cane handle maker. I'll leave that to the pros, just like many artists don't do their own framing or make their own brushes. I'm helping to support another craft. Link to post Share on other sites
Callie Beller Diesel 2,555 Posted September 15, 2015 Report Share Posted September 15, 2015 I just haven't found a cane handle I really like yet. I like the fancy diy versions, but I agree with Neil about not needing to make everything yourself. There are limits to the things I have time to learn how to make. Link to post Share on other sites
rayaldridge 281 Posted September 15, 2015 Author Report Share Posted September 15, 2015 I used to make all my teapots with pulled over-the-top handles, because I felt that they were prettier than cane handles. Unfortunately, I was so convinced of this that I never bothered to try cane handles until recently. Someone who was very knowledgeable about tea asked me to make a teapot for him with a cane handle. So I did, and I decided that I liked the cane handle a lot. It's comfortable, light, less vulnerable to breakage, gives better space usage in the kiln. But here's a teapot with a pulled handle. Link to post Share on other sites
Mark C. 4,865 Posted September 15, 2015 Report Share Posted September 15, 2015 Clay handles break so easy.- I still pull clay ones on my English style teapots-they attach to the side like a mug.I only make them for salt fire-not production work. No photos. Mark Link to post Share on other sites
Chris Campbell 1,226 Posted September 15, 2015 Report Share Posted September 15, 2015 Here is an image of my current favorite 'Bilbro' teapot which I think was meant to be a coffee pot ... But it holds exactly two mugs of tea so in my house, it's a teapot. Beside it is the most wonderful invention for loose tea drinkers ... A mesh basket that fits into a wide range of teapots ... just make your opening between 2 1/4 inches and 3 ... then you don't have to worry about all that spout/holes stuff. Stock some to sell with the pots. Now the reason I don't use teapots with overhead handles is you cannot get these in or out. Also, if they have not made the lid with a good handle, it's a pain to get it off for filling and emptying/rinsing. Link to post Share on other sites
Rae Reich 478 Posted September 16, 2015 Report Share Posted September 16, 2015 Also, as a practical matter, bamboo/wood handles do not get as hot as clay. Unbreakable is good+++, too. Link to post Share on other sites
rayaldridge 281 Posted September 16, 2015 Author Report Share Posted September 16, 2015 Chris, have you got a link to one of those strainers? Sounds like something to look into! Link to post Share on other sites
Chris Campbell 1,226 Posted September 17, 2015 Report Share Posted September 17, 2015 They are everywhere ... and range in price from $6-15 depending on how upscale the store is. Look for loose leaf tea strainers or infusers ... For some reason it costs more when they call it an infuser. http://www.uptontea.com/shopcart/catalog.asp?begin=0&parent=Accessories%3ETeaware%3EInfusion+Aids&category=Infusers If you scroll down you will see they also come in various sizes at this place. I own both stainless and plastic and use both ... There is no flavor transfer from the plastic mesh ones. Link to post Share on other sites
cathgill 1 Posted September 17, 2015 Report Share Posted September 17, 2015 i have done several child sets as well as these snowman ones Oh I cannot get image to attach Link to post Share on other sites
TJR 362 Posted September 17, 2015 Report Share Posted September 17, 2015 My handles don't get hot and they are clay. You pull them from the back end opposite the spout. See gallery. TJR. Link to post Share on other sites
Babs 1,206 Posted September 18, 2015 Report Share Posted September 18, 2015 They are everywhere ... and range in price from $6-15 depending on how upscale the store is. Look for loose leaf tea strainers or infusers ... For some reason it costs more when they call it an infuser. http://www.uptontea.com/shopcart/catalog.asp?begin=0&parent=Accessories%3ETeaware%3EInfusion+Aids&category=Infusers If you scroll down you will see they also come in various sizes at this place. I own both stainless and plastic and use both ... There is no flavor transfer from the plastic mesh ones. This may be the way for me as I haven't touched teapots since I made a batch , one of those days , when out of the glaze firing came teapots .. I had not put the holes from the body to the spout...how could I have not noticed this esp. when glazing?????? I am still cringing at this ridiculously unobservant time Perhaps This could be a posting on its own. How unobservant can one be. Link to post Share on other sites
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