Teapot 1925

Jean Puiforcat made this incredible silver teapot sometime in the early 20th century, and it’s here at the Minneapolis Institute of Art. I can just imagine him in his studio, bending, hammering, and polishing the metal. It's amazing what he could do! Look at the way the light bounces off the curves, almost like liquid. It's not just a teapot, it's a sculpture, a poem in silver. I love the clear handles and base, and the way they slice through the space. Puiforcat was part of that whole Art Deco movement, where everything had to be sleek and modern. I bet he was hanging out with other artists, architects, and designers, all bouncing ideas off each other. I can see the influence of cubism, constructivism, all those avant-garde ideas floating around in the air. Each element is reduced to its essence, yet the whole is so damn elegant. It's like he's saying, "Let's rethink everything, even the way we drink tea." Artists like Puiforcat remind us that anything can be art if you look at it the right way.