Here's a piece that merits display in a prominent craft museum.
Likely made in the 1970s, this teapot combines so many elements, so successfully, it's truly virtuostic. We'll start at the top with the stopper. The raku fired head of the stag is amazinging detailed with coiled horns and behind, a mane. The head sits on the stopper that is itself beautifully turned, glazed and signed, "McCormick". It measures 6 inches long.
The 5.5 inch high vessel of the pot sports the same mat burgundy-carbon glaze overall with turquoise dome shaped jewels applied in a diagonal swirl around the core and handle of the teapot. The sharp angling of the handle anthropomorphically suggests one-arm-akimbo. The spout is made of 3/8 inch (diam.) copper tubing. It arcs ever so slightly forward from it's clay footing and is cut elegantly across the spout. The teapot is also signed "McCormick" on the base.
Patrick McCormick hails from Washington State where he teaches at Western Washington University in Bellingham.
