Verbal Description Transcript

Koi Junk Teapot made in 2009 by American artist, Michelle Erickson. Made of porcelain, colored earthenware agate, and indigenous clays. The object is 1 foot tall, 11 inches wide, and 11 inches deep. The object will be described as if you are standing in front of its label. This teapot was designed to emulate a piece of porcelain salvaged from a shipwreck. The teapot itself is composed of a spherical body, spout, and handle with yellow, brown, and white swirls that flow around its lumpy texture. The teapot is positioned so its spout is towards the object’s right and the handle to the left. The very top of the teapot is adorned with shells, a starfish, and a sea sponge. Though made out of clay, they seem lifelike in color, texture, and positioning. The teapot is perched on a white plate with a blue design of a koi fish on its surface. Jutting out from the plate are shell-like structures. They are woven into the object, so the viewer cannot tell where the plate starts and the natural formations begin. Behind the teapot, two plates are seemingly defying gravity- they sit precariously on their rims, one on top of the other, curving around the teapot. They have the same koi design, one in a deep red, and one in a blue. The back of the topmost plate is labeled with Chinese characters. The words “MADE IN CHINA” in English, are stamped on the bottom in capital letters. Handleless cups are stacked upon the rightmost edge of the same plate the teapot is resting on. The five cups are stacked to match the shape of the handle, with a curve bowing out then in. The cups are decorated with bold chinese characters and semi-opaque koi.