Tead Off, TEAWARE ONLINE

[debunix]

(set 4 here
and
pot 29 here).

[Chip]

... enroute ... first side handle aquisition from Seong-il. So, just Seong-il's photos.

Porcelain shino w-wood ash Teapot #25.


Also Cup set #7 I think ... photos are currently unavailable.

And personal first ever clay caddies (which is somewhat suprising given my penchant for canisters), #13 porcelain and #20 onggi clay.

[debunix]

Those tea caddies were almost irresistible, for sure.

[Chip]

Those tea caddies were almost irresistible, for sure.

Almost? I don't think so. It was hard to just get two.

And sweet pot/cups, debunix!

[Tead Off]

Those tea caddies were almost irresistible, for sure.

I had to do some arm-twisting.

Next firing, we should be seeing some more onggi caddys. They sold very fast.

[hopeofdawn]

Just got my first Seong-il cups yesterday--they are gorgeous! I hope to have good sun this weekend so I can go out and take some good photos of them to share ...

[Tead Off]

I will not be offering any of the teaware of Elena Renker any longer. To my utter amazement, there was zero response. Why? Several potters whom I respect have told me that her work is very high quality and hold her in high esteem. These are both Asians and Western potters. I own one of her bowls and often reach for it when I'm preparing matcha. It feels very good in the hands and is great to look at.

I feel disappointed that others did not see what I and other teaware potters saw in her work. Is it because she is not a 'Tea Artisan' who posts in that thread? Do people feel that they do not 'know' her so they don't want to take a chance on her work or don't feel like they have a 'personal' connection to her? These are some of the thoughts going through my head trying to make heads or tails out of it all. Just wanted to say something about it.

[AdamMY]

I will not be offering any of the teaware of Elena Renker any longer. To my utter amazement, there was zero response. Why? Several potters whom I respect have told me that her work is very high quality and hold her in high esteem. These are both Asians and Western potters. I own one of her bowls and often reach for it when I'm preparing matcha. It feels very good in the hands and is great to look at.

I feel disappointed that others did not see what I and other teaware potters saw in her work. Is it because she is not a 'Tea Artisan' who posts in that thread? Do people feel that they do not 'know' her so they don't want to take a chance on her work or don't feel like they have a 'personal' connection to her? These are some of the thoughts going through my head trying to make heads or tails out of it all. Just wanted to say something about it.

I will tell you I did quite like a few of her pieces, but in response to teaware I have held back on buying lately. I am sorry that you have had zero response to her pieces, and I am sorry when all quality artisans have zero response to their pieces.

[Chip]

I tend to think as I stated above (I think), interest is generated in discussion with TeawareArtisans and/or discussion of TeawareArtisans (and their works). The more we talk, the more we are interested.

It is a huge benefit/advantage of being a TeawareArtisan on TeaChat. I think we feel a little more connected to the artisan and his/her works ... we begin to relate to them on some level.

I still hope Elena Renker joins the TeawareArtisans. We would all be enriched! I definitely thought her work was beautiful.

[Tead Off]

Elena is aware of TeaChat. Whether she will join in, I couldn't say. No doubt, it would probably help sales for me if she did, but, this was not my point in expressing my disappointment and surprise. Many teachatters buy works of artists they don't know at all. ebay and even sellers like Artistic Nippon and Mago are selling artists you, Chip, and the rest of teachatters have never met, said a word to, and know nothing about except that you like their work. I bought work from Seong il and Petr Novak before they joined teachat based on my need, taste, and eye for teaware. I looked at their work and saw something I liked. The price was secondary and luckily not out of my range. I realize other people don't always have the same taste as I do so I can accept not everyone will agree with me. But, in this case, not one enquiry or question about the artist or the work. A couple of posters like Adam had kind words to say and it's appreciated. It just makes me wonder, Chip, when you say her work was beautiful but you never bought anything.(Not trying to make you feel guilty). In Adam's case, he pleads poverty. That I understand fully. If you didn't think the work was beautiful, I would understand that fully, too. Do you see what I'm getting at? Believe me, I don't need the money and I'm not doing this solely for the money.

[karmaplace]

I actually looked at the pieces that you had up in her gallery several times, and was considering them mostly because of all the great things you had said about her work, but I just didn't find them to my personal taste. I'm very sad to hear that there were no inquiries.

[debunix]

The items I like best of her offerings are the Chawans, which I don't use regularly, and the teacups were mostly of a size that I already have in plenty. If I'd seen her cups before my collection got as large, I might well have grabbed a couple.

I do not want to do with teaware what I did with books--have to look at every prospective home with suitability for ridiculous numbers of bookcases in mind.

[Chip]

... Chip, and the rest of teachatters have never met, said a word to, and know nothing about except that you like their work. ... It just makes me wonder, Chip, when you say her work was beautiful but you never bought anything.(Not trying to make you feel guilty).

Interestingly, every teaware piece I have bought outside of China and Japan, I have had direct contact with, and it was after they joined TC. Previously I did not appreciate "Western" teaware (though Elena is not "Western" per se being in the land down under) since historically it tended to be BIG, heavy and clunky. I was thrilled to see I was wrong.

I tend to follow an artisan for a while, then buy multiple pieces of the artisan's work. I think part of my personality is in this, it is just not me to pick up a piece, I want a group that somehow makes sense together, even if they appear eclectic.

But this might take time ... so timing is a really big factor. But interaction can really speed up this timing process. You could have posted Seong-il's work here, and while I might say it is beautiful, I might not have jumped at the opportunitity (several times ) had we already not had interactions and discussion regarding Seong-il. So, I was "ripe for the picking" so to speak. I already had his works on my radar and was already looking for the right opportunity, the right pieces. 16 pieces later ...

I hope this makes some sense ... understanding a buyer's or collector's mentality, (sometimes irrational) thought process, motivations can be hard to grasp.

[Drax]

I thought about this question for a bit. For me, it came down to two things. First, Dropbox, and second, the amount of exposure.

I understand why you're starting with Dropbox, but it is a terrible interface for perusing wares. Also, I think mostly "out of sight, out of mind." Looking back on this thread, her works received only a tiny amount of stage time. Perhaps more photos in the thread, especially of stuff "in action," would help? And re-presenting stuff from time to time? If I'm not familiar with a person's work, then I'm not going to think of that person when I suddenly get in the mood to buy a certain type of teaware...

[hopeofdawn]

Speaking only for myself--I looked at work at least a couple different times, and I found that the aesthetic of it just didn't appeal to me. I tend to love clean lines, and colors (whether vivid or muted) that attract my eye to the form and function of the piece rather than distract from it. I also have to second what debunix said--I don't drink matcha nearly as often as I do other teas, so the fact that the majority of her pieces were chawan was also a factor.

To be really honest, though, I'm very particular about what pieces I buy--a piece of teaware has to really strike me in the heart, so to speak, before I make the leap from admirer to owner.