Teapot

Carl Erickson, Teapot, 1999, porcelain with rattan wrap, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of Kenneth R. Trapp in honor of Gretchen A. Mehring, 2000.19A-B
Copied Carl Erickson, Teapot, 1999, porcelain with rattan wrap, overall: 9 x 8 146 12 in. (22.821.016.4 cm), Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of Kenneth R. Trapp in honor of Gretchen A. Mehring, 2000.19A-B

Artwork Details

Title
Teapot
Date
1999
Dimensions
overall: 9 x 8 146 12 in. (22.821.016.4 cm)
Credit Line
Gift of Kenneth R. Trapp in honor of Gretchen A. Mehring
Mediums Description
porcelain with rattan wrap
Classifications
Object Number
2000.19A-B

Artwork Description

Carl Erickson decorates his ceramic pots with shapes inspired by the landscape around his home in Minnesota. The layers of rich blue glaze on the surface of this teapot evoke the deep lakes of the northern Midwest,and the maple leaves appear to float across the surface of the water as if drifting with a gentle current. The pot's simple, rounded shape recalls Yixing teaware,which originated in Jiangsu Province in eastern China. In this way, Erickson combines North American imagery with Chinese pottery traditions and the ancient practice of brewing tea.