I chose Yixing teapots for my historical reference ceramics project. Yixing teapots were originated in the Song Dynasty, 10th century. Yixing teapots were made from Zisha clay. These teapots were popular in high-class communities. They were mainly used for black and oolong teas and absorbed small amounts of tea into the teapot. After extended use, this would create a coating around the inside of the teapot and help maintain the color and flavor of the tea. The tea was filtered into the teapot for only a few seconds before being served. This is because Yixing teapots are generally smaller. Considering that the teapots did not have to be washed but only rinsed with fresh water, due to the internal patina, the first quantity of tea prepared was not consumed because it was used to clean the teapot. Yixing teapots were also sculptural teapots. They often had drawings or sculptures on them. These drawings often depicted pleasant shapes or the natural world. Many teapots have repeating designs, while others are completely unique. Yixing teapots are still very popular and treasured today. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an original essay Another ceramic artist who has created contemporary reinterpretations of Yixing teapots is called Richard Notkin. Most of Notkin's teapots were created between 1983 and 1955. He has won numerous awards including the National Endowment for the Arts Visual Arts Fellowships in 1981 and 1988, the Louis Comfort Tiffany Foundation Award in 1991, and a Jerry Metcalf Foundation Artist Fellowship in 1999. “Furthermore, the teapot is a universally recognized object, with strong associations to domesticity and tranquility. As such, it is a "hook" to lure the viewer - who must then decipher the narrative imagery - into a sort of bait and switch. The transportation of tea is secondary to the not-so-hidden message in my 'teapots'.” Notkin said in his interview with Ceramics Today. Notkin was very influential in choosing the historical piece I would recreate for this project. His work sparked some ideas in my head and I really enjoyed his passion for his artwork. I was drawn to Yixing teapots because when I was in high school taking ceramics, I was obsessed with making teapots. I wanted to make my teapots unique and beautiful. Every day in class I threw a teapot at the steering wheel. It was the one thing I couldn't get enough of. The fact that yixing teapots absorb quantities of tea into the teapot and create a coating fascinated me. Also, the fact that they have drawings and sculptures on them. I believe these teapots were constructed by wheel casting or coil building. I believe this because many of them were perfectly symmetrical, but others looked a little irregular. I plan to recreate a Yixing teapot and create it in a more contemporary way. My idea is to build a round spiral teapot, using stoneware. Unfortunately, Zisha clay is not available for me to make a real Yixing teapot. Once the teapot shape is complete, I plan to add something to the teapot and portray the bottom piece as an elephant. The trunk will act as a spout and on the sides of the teapot there will be two handles to create the ears. It will have two tusks, however, one is missing. The elephant will have its mouth open and appear to be in pain. For the teapot lid, it would simply be a plate with a spiral around the bottom so it can fit into the opening in the base. I plan to create on the lid handle the figure of a man holding the missing tusk of the elephant. In the final piece,.