Butte C‑2

Billie Jean Theide, Butte C-2, 1993, copper, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of the Diane and Sandy Besser Collection, Santa Fe, New Mexico, 2002.70.15A-B, © 1993, Billie Jean Theide
Copied Billie Jean Theide, Butte C-2, 1993, copper, 37 342 34 in. (7.719.67.0 cm), Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of the Diane and Sandy Besser Collection, Santa Fe, New Mexico, 2002.70.15A-B, © 1993, Billie Jean Theide

Artwork Details

Title
Butte C‑2
Date
1993
Dimensions
37 342 34 in. (7.719.67.0 cm)
Copyright
© 1993, Billie Jean Theide
Credit Line
Gift of the Diane and Sandy Besser Collection, Santa Fe, New Mexico
Mediums Description
copper
Classifications
Object Number
2002.70.15A-B

Artwork Description

Billie Jean Theide fashioned this teapot design after the rugged rock formations of the American West, but it also resembles an ancient artifact that might have been unearthed from the seabed. The powdery green patina on the surface, which forms when the metal is exposed to moist air or salt, emphasizes this excavated appearance. The teapot’s solid, looming silhouette evokes a giant ironclad, cutting through the water with its “spout” leading the way like a rusty cannon.