Teapot, 1983

  • Alessi, S.p.a., Italian, founded 1921
  • Michael Graves, American, 1934 - 2015

Silver plate, lacquered aluminum, bakelite, glass, and mock ivory

  • Overall: 8 1/4 × 4 3/4 × 10 1/8 inches (21 × 12.1 × 25.7 cm)

Founders Society Purchase with funds from Founders Junior Council, James Pearson Duffy Fund, Lenora and Alfred Glancy Foundation Fund, Modern Decorative Arts and Sculpture Fund, Dr. and Mrs. George Kamperman Fund, Mr. and Mrs. Alvan Macauley, Jr. Fund

1986.27.2

In 1979 eleven international architects were commissioned to design limited-edition tea and coffee services by the Italian firm Alessi. Every set had to include six pieces and had to function in the normal way. Perhaps not unexpectedly, many of the services look like tiny buildings or parts of buildings.

1986-present, purchase by the Detroit Institute of Arts (Detroit, Michigan, USA)

Michael Graves; Alessi, S.p.a., Teapot, 1983, silver plate, lacquered aluminum, Bakelite, glass, and mock ivory. Detroit Institute of Arts, Founders Society Purchase with funds from Founders Junior Council, James Pearson Duffy Fund, et al., 1986.27.2.