1. Design Background

1.1. Ceramic Background

It is recorded in literature that cavemen invented the ceramic making method by firing clay with shapes through the discovery of fire. Hence the ceramic firing has undergone few million years to reach the craft development today.

Ceramic productions in ancient days were intended to cook food, place articles or sacrifice. Following the technological advancement as time passes, ceramics can be applied to a diversity of level, from the livelihood ceramic containers to the industrial manufacturing, which exhibit considerably important role in the value of artistry.

In recent years, Taiwan’s production of tea sets are shifting from traditional teapot shapes to new styles. In particular, the transformation of the look of teapots is not only associated with the style of ceramic artists but also shows the trend of integrating Taiwanese cultural and creative industries.

1.2. The Social Role of Homophonic Puns

The use of language has long held a certain portion in the development of culture while homophonic puns have been used by poets in their poetries. In the example of “Song of Bamboo Twigs” by Yuxi Liu from Tang dynasty, “The west is veiled in rain and the east basks in sunshine; My gallant is as deep in love as the day is fine,” the word “sunny” in the poetry contains a pun of “emotion,” which refers to the sunny in rain or shine and the emotion in relation.

In Taiwan, homophonic puns are also widely used. In the folk custom most deeply rooted in the culture, wrapping rice dumpling (zhongzi) in Dragon Boat Festival contains the meaning of “guaranteed to pass examinations” while the dishes on the table include the fish symbolizing “abundance year after year” for wealth, turnip symbolizing “fortune,” and the pineapple place on the table as sacrifice to deity in Taiwanese is “Onglai,” which suggests frequent fortune. With regards to the mass media, many advertising words on TV also adopt the homophonic features filled with creativity to thereby enhance the audience’ impression on the products. The abovementioned reveals the key role of language in the different levels of the society.

2. Characteristics and Techniques of Ceramic Teapots

2.1. Firing Method of Teapots

The firing process of ceramic is usually divided into firewood kiln, gas kiln and electric kiln. The works of creation were fired through gas kiln since the use of gas as fuel can apply to reduction and oxidation firing while the even temperature inside the gas kiln would provide relatively more table quality. The works fired contain high level of change and sophistication.

Clay materials produce infrared function in works after kiln burning, which could sweeten the water. Hence such teapots are highly exceptional from teapots made of other materials. Moreover, the process of handmade craft production adds more mildness to the touch of teapots.

Figure 1. Photo of Firing by Gas Kiln

2.2. Production Technique of Glaze

Table 1. Font Specifications for A4 Papers

Glaze is divided into several steps in preparation, starting from the design of glaze ingredients, known as “glaze formulation.” After four hours of mineral grinding, the substances are grinded into fine molecules, which undergo stuffing to complete the preparation of glaze. All kiln factories have different glaze formula and that makes up the distinction in colors and styles. The ceramic body is first burned in temperature of 850°C, followed by coloring. The coloring methods of works include enameling technique, spray-gun coloring, waterfall glaze application, and soaking method. Finally the ceramic body is burned in 1250°C to finish the production process of the work. The coloring method used for these two pieces is glaze spraying while the primary glazed used on ink gold teapot is natural mineral - manganese glaze and the rest using fundamental glaze. The primary glaze used on silver indigo teapot is cobaltous oxide with the rest using the same glaze as the ink gold teapot.

3. Design and Creation of Teapots

3.1. Ink Gold Teapot Creation Process

The production of style for this teapot adopts an overhead handle design, while the engineering uses hand-building pottery to construct the body. The handle is shaped by ceramic plate while the irregular handle and changes exhibit the uniqueness of each teapot. For coloring, this piece is created with ink gold while “ink” itself contains the strong subtle quality of the Orient while “gold” symbolizes prosperity and glory. Hence the process of producing ink gold teapot emphasizes on the harmonious coordination between ink and gold colors, which undergoes special glaze preparation and reduction firing approach to turn the black ink color of teapot into black-with-gold look in the brewing process through temperature change. The subtle ink color incorporated with the noble and yet subtle golden gloss reveals the special literati quality of the Orient. Finally the teapot is name ink gold teapot with the puns expressing the auspicious connotation of “touching gold.”

Figure 2. Photo of Ink Gold Teapot Production

3.2. Silver Indigo Teapot Creation Process

This piece of work is carries out a series of creation with the intention to integrate teapot colors and homophonic puns. For this reason, we focus on the look of traditional teapot when designing this teapot but we also design a new overhead handle for the handle, modifying from the lateral handle to the overhead handle on top, implying the lifting of glory. We also make the overhead handle with curve so that the teapot can break away from the symmetric style but can produce the aesthetics of irregular changes, realizing the balance between tradition and innovation. With regards to techniques, silver is outlined on the teapot handle through silver water, producing the look of cloud, which is incorporated with the indigo glaze to add the implication of glory and auspiciousness of silver indigo teapot.

Figure 3. Photo of Silver Indigo Teapot Production

4. Conclusions

Since the discovery of fire by cavemen, the production of ceramics has undergone a long period of development to reach the prosperity today. Tea is a common drink in Taiwan and hence many people own tea sets at home since they are widely available in life.

How to choose the suitable teapots among the many tea sets and ceramics in the market for anyone seems to become one issue people frequently encounter. The crafts masters also face with the issues merit discussion – and that is to upgrade the value of teapots but preserve the culture at the same time.

Hence, the integration of teapots with representation of livelihood ceramics and language culture is intended to apply homophonic puns into art works but also create practical and auspicious blessings in the words, which will extend the artistic value of ceramic arts in art crafts products. Ceramic artists also need to extend the domain of professionalism into life so that the artists can create works with local culture and creativity, thereby passing down the art incessantly.