Posted 9 years ago
austrohung…
(584 items)
Although china isn't my usual collecting field, you all know I'm mad about good design and this (sadly uncomplete) set has it all: an amazingly bold shape, the most simple and yet the most striking decoration I've found on this design, and the delicacy of fine porcelain.
The CUBICO range was designed around 1930 at Porcelanas de Coimbra. They made some great art deco designs at the time, but none as bold and beautiful as this one. No doubt they were inspired by the famous Cube teapot that was designed by Robert Crawford Johnson in 1917 (although put into production in 1920) and used at the Cunard Ocean liners Queen Mary and Queen Elizabeth- What's more, I do believe the inspiration came from the silver version T. Wilkinson & Sons made under license around 1925, as the sugar bowl has the same handles, unexistant in the original design. In any case, I do believe this design have gone further in terms of AvantGarde style.
I've seen online pics of complete sets and its surprising they didn't use squares in saucers and other elements but octagons, which may sound a bit design-inconsistent, although having in consideration how difficult it would have been sipping tea from a straight line cup edge it isn't that bad after all.
In spite of already having a couple of teapots I'm planning to make this the “official teapot” at the studio -whenever a teapot will be required, but we usually use mugs and pour hot water into them straight from the ketle... -.
Of course now that I've got a teapot and a sugar bowl I won't stop until I get a creamer in this shape and decoration... which I do believe must be a most difficult task. Cups and saucers would be a plus but... I'd really never use them. There must be a coffe pot too, so it would be welcome too, as well as dessert dishes ;)
Thanks for your love KEVIN, SKLO, JENSEN and MIKE!!!
A beautiful thing to lift my eyes and see this morning.
stunning!!!
Thanks for your love FLEDERMAUS, MELANIE, SEAN, KYRA, AGH and ARISELLON!!!
And thanks for your comments!!!!!
Thanks for your love CHARM, VIOLEDT and GTMOOM!!!!
These are so quirky and cool Austro! I love 'em!
Thanks RICK!!! I totally loved them the moment I saw them... real love at firt sight!
Thanks for loving too CHADAKOIN!
I can see why Austro... You just don't see such unique pieces every day.
Love it all but the spout really clinched it. Fantastic Austro!
Vely vely noyce!!!!!... :-)
Thanks for loving it FORTAPACHE, KAREN, INKY. DAVID, TREY and JIM!!!
The spout (and the lids) is precisely what makes it so unique compared to the Cube Teapot. I haven't used it yet, but I'm sure it works wonderfully! vely wondefully! ;)
Thanks for your love VALENTINO and HUNTER!!!!
@VALeNTINO: the cubic teapot used at the Cunard liners was this kind of teapot: http://luxurylinerrow.com/product/foley-large-tea-pot/
So this is what you'd find in that site.
This Portuguese design I find much more beautiful, but being honest, the English one is perfect for a Liner. I do like they can be stored very easily. They would have had psome trouble with my Coimbra teapot...
Thanks for your love NORDICMAN!!!
MIKE, thanks for loving!!!!
MANI, thanks for your love!!!!
Thanks ROSE for your love!!!
Beautiful piece. I never had seen something so cubic from my country porcelain industry...
Obrigado jptf! It might not be one of the most popular art-deco designs of the time, but it's one of the most beautiful and radical ones!!! (and, I must ad, particularly in this simple decor).
I saw an amazing exhibition at the MUDE in Lisboa about Portuguese design... I was really surprised at its quality. Such a pity that we Spaniards know so little about Portugal!
Thanks for your love, MANI!!!
Lovely, lovely, just simple and lovely.