 |
|
 |
 |
|
|
|
|
|
 |
A conversation with a teapot
WILFRIED MOLL
Silversmith, Hamburg
 |
|
Participants of the symposium visiting the Bauhaus Archiv, Berlin |
During the visit to the ”Bauhaus Archiv”, the silversmith Wilfried Moll was suddenly addressed to by Marianne Brandt’s tea infuser:
”Mister! Mister!”
”Who is it?”
”It’s me.”
”Oh!”
”Is it true that Ms. Brandt died as a very poor lady?”
”I just heard of it. The report was authentical.”
”They spent a lot of $$ to purchase me. Did Ms. Brandt get some of it?”
”I don’t think so. But Amadeus and Vincent also died very poor.”
”It is a thousand times pityful.”
–––
”Mister—what are you doing?”
”Me? I am a teapot maker.”
”A teapot maker? Like Ms. Brandt?”
”So it is.”
–––
”Mr. teapot maker, have a look at my proportions. Are they well done?”
”Your proportions are very well done!”
”Thank you—some people measure my proportions by means of golden scales. Sullivan has written: First came the functions, and other means; but most important is beauty. What about my function and beauty?”
”Also Frank Lloyd Wright has written important things, and Walter Gropius too. All this is stimulating for thought. But by thinking alone you get no experience, not even to make teapots.”
”I do not agree. Gropius’ writings are highly intelligent and important for life.”
–––
”The small button on your lid seems to me much better than the one on your bigger coppersister. Your crossbase is exceptional.”
”It is not easy to stand all the time on a crossbase.”
”You look a little bit like a roman oil lamp. If I’d put cotton in your spout and oil into your body...”
”Pouring oil into my body!! Don’t you dare – you are crazy!”
”Excuse me – excuse me. I am so sorry.”
–––
”Mr. teapot maker? I feel lonely without the beautiful paintings by Klee, Feininger and Kandinsky—
Teapot maker? I have a problem: People lift me up into the sky while I like to stand on a table. In my presence they speak about the high ethics of Bauhaus design. On the other hand, they buy and sell all the design nonsense they believe to be necessary.”
–––
”Dear little teapot, you are very critical about buyers and sellers. In one way you can be very happy. You are standing in the bright light of success and appreciation. In contrast, the teapots from my teacher, a very good silversmith, are condemned to the darkness of a museum depot.”
”What a pity!”
”You wish to stand on a table, have warm tea inside and feel to be required.”
”Oh yes!”
–––
”Mr. teapot maker? Do not forget me.”
”Whenever I sit on the beach, the red disk falling into the sea without any splish splash, I shall look into the sky and remember you.”
”Auf Wiedersehen.”
|
|
|
|
© 2008 Bröhan-Museum | Bronze-Figur: Agathon Léonard, Danseuse au
bracelet (Tänzerin mit Armband), um 1900, Bronze, goldpatiniert,
Susse Frères, Paris | Abb.: Kaffee- und Teeservice, Maison Cardeilhac,
Paris, um 1890 | Webdesign unicom-berlin.de |
|
|
 |
|
|
