About the Artwork
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.
Teapot
1983
Michael Graves (Designer) American, 1934 - 2015 Alessi, S.p.a. (Manufacturer) Italian, founded 1921
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)
Silver
Contemporary Art after 1950
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
Non-commercial all standard museum
Markings
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Provenance
1986-present, purchase by the Detroit Institute of Arts (Detroit, Michigan, USA)
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Provenance pageExhibition History
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The exhibition history of a number of objects in our collection only begins after their acquisition by the museum, and may reflect an incomplete record.
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We regularly update our object record as new research and findings emerge, and we welcome your feedback for correction and/or improvement.
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Credit Line for Reproduction
Courtesy of Max Protetch Gallery
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.
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We regularly update our object record as new research and findings emerge, and we welcome your feedback for correction or improvement.
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