Teapot 1882

This is a porcelain teapot, made by the Worcester Royal Porcelain Company. Note how the figure’s flamboyant pose is constructed through the teapot’s design. The spout extends from the man’s arm. The handle on the opposite side mimics another outstretched arm, creating a visual tension and imbalance. The figure's head, adorned with a jaunty hat, serves as the lid, disrupting traditional notions of form. The porcelain’s smooth, almost sensual texture contrasts with the sharp, almost caricatured features of the man. The colours are vibrant. The overall aesthetic defies the rigidity expected of functional objects. The Worcester Royal Porcelain Company has produced an object that questions the boundaries between art and utility, humour and sophistication. It invites us to reconsider our expectations.