Object Details
Artist
Albion Smith, born Hemet, CA 1952
Luce Center Label
Albion Smith enjoys making all the parts of an object, including clasps, hinges, and miniature fastenings. He creates a variety of detailed teapots and hopes they will be treasured as objects of art and used as functional vessels. In this piece, the winding patterns were engraved onto a flat sheet of layered silver, then scored, bent, and soldered into the hexagonal form. The different parts of the teapot blend seamlessly, with the designs radiating out from the richly colored gem at the center of each panel.
Luce Object Quote
"I see . . . in my mind's vision, this flawless object, then strive to match that vision as closely as possible. The teapot's the closest I've come." Albion Smith, "Treasures of Another World"
Credit Line
Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of Sandra and Gilbert Oken in honor of Kenneth R. Trapp
Date
1996
Object number
1996.51A-B
Restrictions & Rights
Usage conditions apply
Type
Decorative Arts
Crafts
Medium
pierced, soldered, engraved, formed, and fabricated sterling silver, blue chalcedony, pink tourmaline, and rosewood
Dimensions
part A (teapot): 4 1/2 x 5 1/4 x 4 1/2 in. (11.5 x 13.4 x 11.5 cm)
See more items in
Smithsonian American Art Museum Collection
Department
Renwick Gallery
On View
Smithsonian American Art Museum, Luce Foundation Center, 4th Floor, 52B
Smithsonian American Art Museum, Luce Foundation Center
Smithsonian American Art Museum, Luce Foundation Center, 4th Floor
Data Source
Smithsonian American Art Museum
Link to Original Record
Record ID
saam_1996.51A-B