California Dream and Obverse Obsession are from a series of sculptures based on a historical teapot, coffeepot, or chocolate pot. My 21st century counterparts use recycled tin cans as the foundation for construction and social commentary. Each object is larger than the original historical inspiration to reflect the super-sized, grandé, bonus-value mentality of modern America where more is better, even if you never wanted that much in the first place.
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In the short presentations below I explain the design inspiration and social commentary for each object.
Cubist Coffee Service
Cubist Coffee Service was made in 2004. It is a bas-relief construction of the famous photograph for Cubic Coffee Service originally titled, Lights and Shadows of Manhattan. (Currently owned by RISD museum). Photographic reproductions of this famous coffee set all show the same side of the work. The image is more famous than the object itself, thus flattening and significantly underestimating the object itself. The backside of this rendition underscores the dimensionality and nuance often obscured by photographic representations of objects.
Recycled tin cans, 10k gold, aluminum rivets, brass and stainless steel screws. Supporting easel (attached to the back): sterling silver with brass screws, feet dipped in plastic coating.
Dimensions: 27" H x 46" W (at widest part of the tray) x 10" D (when easel is open)
Permanent Collection of the Kamm Teapot Foundation
In fact, in 2004 when I saw this sterling silver set in an exhibition, its familiar, photographic front was the only side shown to the public— the backside was not shown to viewers.
Cubist Coffee Service looks three-dimensional, but it is completely flat, just like a photograph. The different colors of metallic tin cans along with text were used to convey the shadow, facets, reflections and dimensions of the original object.
The original Cubic Coffee Service was a sterling silver construction. In my iteration the precious material of sterling silver plays a supporting role, literally, as the easel stand on the back.
This work asks us to re-evaluate how an object is valued in our material culture. Does value exist by how something is made; by who made it; by what materials are used; or is value created by marketing and consumption?
What does it mean to own a sterling silver coffee service in the 20th century?
HISTORICAL BACKGROUND
Lights and Shadows of Manhattan, the original sterling silver coffee service designed by Eric Magnussen for Gorham in 1927, was a significant departure for both the designer and manufacturer. As a purely modernist form it was designed and constructed as a tour-de-force response to contemporary art trends (Cubism), design trends (Art Deco) and architectural influences (skyscrapers). Although sharply criticized when first exhibited in New York, it has since become an iconic object included in almost every book related to Art Deco and 20th century design.
Cubism: Cornell and Berman is an article written by Allie Farlowe about the original silver coffee set and tray by Eric Magnussen.
More Chocolate Cups, Chocolate Pots, Teapots, and Coffeepots
Below are a series of chocolate cups, chocolate pots, teapots, and coffeepots that I have made from recycled tin cans. I see the use of post consumer packaging as a reflection of our consumer society. The color, patterns and words reveal the values of our culture in a remarkably similar way to the use of sterling silver in the 18th century.
Bittersweet Chocolate Pot with Four Chocolate Cups
Made in 2003, Bittersweet Chocolate Pot with Four Chocolate Cups is made from recycled tin cans. The cups are filled with permanent polyester, resembling the rich, foamy hot chocolate served by the pot. Different brand names of chocolate served as inspiration for the piece. Most of the cans are no longer available, and I found them by accident at yard sales and flea markets.
Dimensions: 20” H x 15.5” W
Permanent Collection of the Kamm Teapot Foundation
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Boston Chinese Tea Teapot
Boston Chinese Tea was made in 2005 and based on a 17th century Chinese Blue and White teapot shown in a Christie's Collectibles Teapots book as an iconic example of Chinese blue and white porcelain. The historic example was 8" in height. My 21st century version is significantly larger with a height of 15.” In theory, a teapot of this size can hold as much as advertised, 72 cups of tea.
Dimensions: 15.5" H x 11.5"W (at spout) x 10.5"D
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"Silver" Preferred Teapot
Modeled after a Paul Revere teapot, my teapot titled, “Silver” Preferred, is a 21st century counterpart. The aura of a Paul Revere teapot exists because of the value of the metal, the fame of the creator, and the craftsmanship in fabrication. In “Silver” Preferred, the values that made a Revere teapot special are reappraised, reexamined, and reassembled. My teapot does not seek value in its materials (tin cans), but asks us to re-evaluate how an object is valued in our material culture.
Dimensions: 8.5” H (pot) x 10” H (with wood handles) x 18.5” L (spout to handle)
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Coffee : The Golden Ratio
Coffee: The Golden Ratio coffeepot is based on a historical coffeepot from 1728-9. The cups are permanently stacked on top of one another. The ratio for the height of the coffeepot to the height of the precariously stacked espresso cups is based on the concept of phi (pronounced ‘fee’), the Golden Ratio, and a pun on the word "coffee".
Would you like milk and sugar with your coffee? What is your perfect ratio?
Dimensions: 22" H x 12" W (at handle and spout) x 6.25" D
Permanent Collection of the Kamm Teapot Foundation
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Caffeinated Arrangement: Black or White
Made in 2000, this coffee pot is included in the catalog and book, The Artful Teapot by Garth Clark.
Coffee Pot Dimensions: 12" H x 12" W (spout to handle)
Espresso Cups Dimensions: 2 5/8" H x 5.5" W
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Consuming Good Taste
Consuming Good Taste was constructed in 1999, it is one of the earliest teapots I constructed. The tins used are those that sold below average cookies and candy, but were printed with images of famous paintings such as Renoir, and Van Gogh. Why print famous paintings on tin cans to sell cookies and candy?
Art reproductions on tin cans reflect the perceived role of art in our consumer society. Do products using images of art imply that the product tastes good -- or that the consumer has good taste?
The teapot stand for this sculpture is modeled after the tiny, fragile teacups imported from China in the first half of the 18th century. It also uses recycled tin cans printed with the pattern for Chinese blue and white porcelain.
Teapot and stand constructed from recycled tin cans, aluminum and brass rivets. This teapot is included in the book Teapots: Makers & Collectors by Dona Z. Meilach.
Dimensions: 11"H (with stand) x 11.5"W (spout to handle)
Permanent Collection of the Kamm Teapot Foundation
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© Harriete Estel Berman, 2021
Celestial Seasoning Teapot and Two Cups
Celestial Seasoning Teapot includes a small stand and two tea cups It was made in 1999-2000 from Celestial Seasoning tins. Celestial Seasoning tins were a promotional item that often came inside boxes of tea, whereas larger tin cans were used to sell tea bags as gift items — they are difficult to find.
The tea cups featured in this set were the first I ever made. It took about 75 hours to figure out the technical solutions required for their fabrication. Once I unlocked the method of making the tea cups I made more cups for tea pots.
Teapot Dimensions: 8.25”H (on stand) x 11.50" W (spout to handle)
Tea Cup Dimensions: 2.38”H (on stand) x 5.5”W (spout to handle)
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