Skip to main content

Link to Smithsonian homepage

Smithsonian Music

Main menu

  • Calendar
  • Listen
  • Learn
    • Ask Smithsonian
    • Collections Spotlights
    • Music Stories
  • Watch
  • Blog

Tea Set (cup)

Object Details

Luce Center Label
Barbara Walch built this tea set without the use of a wheel. Instead, she pinched the sides of the clay to create the ridges that appear on each piece. She has left the exterior of each pot unglazed, while the interiors are finished with an off-white and brown glaze that complements the natural color of the clay. Walch unifies the set by using the same spiraling handle on the teacups, teapot and sugar spoon, and also relates the saucers to the larger tray by curling up the sides and leaving the bottoms flat. The teapot, which Walch has molded into a pumpkin-like shape, is one of the hardest forms for a potter to build. The artist must make sure that all elements of the pot---the handle, lid, and spout---fit together and that the finished pieces in the set can hold and pour tea.
Data Source
Smithsonian American Art Museum
Artist
Barbara Walch, born Niagara Falls, NY 1950
Date
n.d.
Credit Line
Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of Ferrin Gallery in honor of our Twentieth Anniversary
Copyright
© Barbara Walch
Medium
hand built glazed stoneware
Dimensions
2 x 5 1/2 x 3 1/2 in. (5.1 x 14.0 x 8.9 cm)
Type
Decorative Arts-Ceramic
Crafts
There are restrictions for re-using this image. For more information, visit the Smithsonian's Terms of Use page .
International media Interoperability Framework
IIIF provides researchers rich metadata and media viewing options for comparison of works across cultural heritage collections. Visit the IIIF page to learn more.
View manifest View in Mirador Viewer

Link to Smithsonian homepage

  • About
  • Terms of Use
  • Privacy
  • YouTube
  • Twitter
Back to Top