28 April 2008

Calling the Kettle

As my grandmother never tired of telling me, you can never be too rich, too thin, or have too many teapots. (She was always little off; clearly, it runs in the family.)

These lovely ones, then, are what I'll be dreaming about wrapping my fingers around each spring morning when I wake up. It's allegedly time for the season here in New York, but it really doesn't feel like it. That's fine with me, though. I never did prefer the iced-tea months which will be upon us soon enough.

First up, this sleek, brilliant red, Aladdinlike pot and four-cup set from Judith Weber.


I first spotted it in the gift shop Museum of Arts and Design (I paid attention to the exhibit, too, I promise, whatever it was) and fell for it, hard.

It then reappeared on a gift-buying trip to a housewares store in Soho -- it was fate, yes, but then I turned around quickly to voice my delight throughout the store and nearly broke $3,000 worth of ceramic vases, so I had to leave before anyone could pin anything on me.

And now, in the May issue of Martha Stewart, it's back again. And it's only $190, a small price to pay when you could possible get a genie to appear out of this thing. You just have to know how to rub it (another nugget from grandmother, God rest her inappropriate soul).


Next up, a more traditional but still stunning Japanese production from Takada Kenzo that was also featured in the Martha Stewart article.

OK, so this one is a bit over $200 (and that doesn't include those breathtaking matching cups), but it practically screams (if it were socially acceptable to do so in Japan) SAKURA with that cherry-blossom blush. And hai, the double-wire handles just take it over the top. How gorgeous would a perfectly brewed, emerald-hued Uji look sitting in that gentle pink, a few delicate green leaves drifting their way to nestle in the plum-rose bottom?

The blue-brown gradient is a pretty combination, too. Buy that one so the pink is left for me.

8 comments:

ana dane said...

I'm a little teapot.

Bonbon Oiseau said...

oops--i meant that about me--I'M a little teapot--uh--short and stout.

Bonbon Oiseau said...

I'll get off your blog now.

Bonbon Oiseau said...

I mean, posing as you...

ana dane said...

no, stay- it's like a tea party in my mouth, and everyone's invited.

Anonymous said...

those teapots are pretty but if they are ceramic and not earthware then 1) they will get colder faster and, more importantly, 2) they will accumulate "stuff" which will react over time and yield a tinged flavor in a year or two. i'm on my 3rd Joyce Chen black teapot. its the only way to go.
along the same lines, a glass mug will keep your tea warmer for longer than a ceramic mug.

Penelope said...

How could you not buy that red teapot?

ana dane said...

i know, weird- to NOT buy something.