Ocean Porifera (Teaset)

Ocean Porifera is the latest teapot set that we created this year. The shaping idea comes from sponges living at the bottom of the ocean – creatures with large and somewhat rugged bodies. I was strongly attracted by their surface texture. The long and short interlocking grooves, and the multi-hollowed surface help the sponge have a very unique ability to filter seawater.

To reproduce the most authentic and natural feeling, I chose the method of shaping the teapot set entirely by hand and tried to make it as “non-round” as possible. I wanted that shape to be a bit distorted, a bit unbalanced and carry an “abnormal - hard to imagine” look.

But overall, when picked up, the teapot set must still bring a comfortable feeling to the hand, evoke curiosity and become a highlight that attracts all eyes in any space where it is present.

Choosing the glaze layer also required a lot of consideration time. In order to honor the rippling grooves and many polygonal details on the teapot body, the glaze layer must create a diverse color transition between different high and low areas on the teapot body, bringing a smooth and moist feeling when touched and absolutely staying away from excessive light reflection.

The chosen glaze color is a mixture between green and blue, created by the metallic element Copper in the composition of the glaze. Here, I allow the glaze color to have a random variation range between these two shades of blue. Depending on the temperature and position in the kiln, the nuance of the glaze will change within an allowable range.

Therefore, here exist two dimensions of color variation: according to the glaze thickness (between the high place and the low place on the surface) and according to the firing temperature in the kiln. All in order to create a product that truly has visual depth and constantly changes at every angle.

I believe that a good product needs to have control from the idea to every production stage, but at the same time, it also needs to have space for freedom and random variation.