Ban Wa Renaissance

Teapots are functional art. However, this teapot's sole purpose is to be aesthetically pleasing. I based this sculpture on a traditional Chinese form that dates back to the Qing dynasty. The original teapot would have been made from zisha clay and fired unglazed. Given my use of an unconventional material (wood), I chose to stray from convention and instead emulate the crackled crazing effect found in some glazed pottery. I also sought to capture the vibrant colors characteristic of the Western raku process. To pay homage to my material, I created windows that reveal the true wooden construction of the teapot. Tradition meets innovation—a Ban Wa Renaissance.