Teapot from -Tête à Tête- tea and coffee service 1939

This silver teapot, part of a tea and coffee service, was designed by Arthur Leroy Barney, though we can't say exactly when. What strikes me is the commitment to sleek, machine-like forms. The reflective surfaces aren't just about glamour; they’re about how light interacts with and defines shape. The repeated vertical lines are like brushstrokes in metal, each reflecting light a little differently, creating a sense of movement and depth. It’s all about precision, but there’s a softness too. Look at the curve of the teapot’s body; it's so gentle against the sharp lines of the handle. This piece reminds me a little of what Fernand Léger was doing in painting at the same time: taking the mechanical and making it human, making it beautiful. Ultimately, this tea set plays with ideas of functionality and elegance, but also with how we perceive the world through reflection and repetition. It's about seeing familiar forms in new and unexpected ways.