Teapot

1989-1990 (made), 1985-1987 (designed)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

Gerald Gulotta (b. 1921) is an American industrial designer and educator. He was invited to China in 1985 to collaborate with potters at the Violet Sand Factory (Zisha gongyi chang 紫砂工藝廠) to creat new 'purple clay' (zisha) teapot designs. Gulotta sketched his designs on paper, which the potters turned into three-dimensional objects. Seven of the designs were selected for limited edition production. All seven designs are represented in this group in the V&A. Gulotta's sketches and examples are in the Cooper-Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum.

Object details

Categories
Object type
Parts
This object consists of 2 parts.

  • Teapot
  • Lid
Materials and techniques
Hand-built, stoneware
Brief description
Teapot, stoneware, designed by Gerald Gulotta, 1985-7, prototype made by Zhou Dinghua, object made by Zhang Zhiqing, 1989-90, Yixing, China.
Physical description
Teapot with cover, made of unglazed brown stoneware, cone-like shape, with a thin, flat handle that rises from the base and bends at a sharp angle to connect with the top of the teapot, then extends to connect with the spout. Mark on base and under cover.
Dimensions
  • Height: 9.0cm
  • Width: 11.0cm
Style
Marks and inscriptions
  • Designer Gulotta (On base)
  • 張志清制
    Translation
    Made by Zhang Zhiqing
    Transliteration
    Zhang Zhiqing zhi
Credit line
Given by the American Friends of the V&A through the generosity of Gerald Gulotta
Object history
This object was acquired as a work by Zhou Dinghua, but the mark on the base shows that it is made by Zhang Zhiqing, his student. Zhou Dinghua made the prototype based on a 2-d design by Gerald Gulotta.
Summary
Gerald Gulotta (b. 1921) is an American industrial designer and educator. He was invited to China in 1985 to collaborate with potters at the Violet Sand Factory (Zisha gongyi chang 紫砂工藝廠) to creat new 'purple clay' (zisha) teapot designs. Gulotta sketched his designs on paper, which the potters turned into three-dimensional objects. Seven of the designs were selected for limited edition production. All seven designs are represented in this group in the V&A. Gulotta's sketches and examples are in the Cooper-Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum.
Other number
LOAN:AMERICANFRIENDS.450:1&2-2005 - Previous loan number
Collection
Accession number
FE.9:1, 2-2010

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Record createdJune 25, 2009
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