A Teacup Collection: Paintings of Porcelain Treasures
In paintings as pretty as the porcelain they depict, this gift book celebrates one of the finest teacup collections in the world: the 300-piece archive of the Clark Art Institute, which dates back to the eighteenth century and represents coveted designs of the day from Europe and China. Artist Molly Hatch, with exclusive access to this largely unviewed collection, pored over the details of each cup to create this visual treat. Including page after page of paintings of the cups, and led off by introductory essays, this is both an intriguing reflection on the art of collecting and an utterly charming gift for tea drinkers and teacup collectors.
Author
Kathleen Morris is director of exhibitions and curator of decorative arts at the Clark Art Institute in Williamstown, Massachusetts.
Molly Hatch is an artist known for her surface pattern designs and ceramics. She lives in Northampton, Massachusetts.Review
"Camellia sinensis—and the myriad flavor profiles that can come from this one plant—hooked Steve Schwartz early on. Not content to just read up on the subject, he set off on a walkabout through the tea estates of the world. It lasted a year and a half. And when he was done, he came home to found Art of Tea in 2004. Now a master blender and expert who lectures at tea conferences and events, he's as fascinated with tea as he was when he started out sixteen years ago. Lucky for us, this book distills everything he knows into one volume."
— S. Irene Virbila, former restaurant critic and food writer, Los Angeles Times
"This book isn't really about tea. Pick your 'tea' and plug in your personal 'journey' and you'll quickly see why there's deep learning in these pages for all of us."
— Professor Sasha Strauss, CEO and Founder of Innovation Protocol
"Steve walks the talk of tea. Through his pages, he takes us on a journey of remembering how natural and inherent it is to engage with the medicine of the plants ritualistically. In a time of unprecedented chaos and uncertainty, Art of Tea brings us the peace, solace, and simplicity so many of us are craving. It elicits our connection to the earth through the unfolding magic of plants, specifically Camellia sinensis, with only the gentleness and warmth that an intentional cup of tea can offer."
— Danielle Ryan Broida, RH (AHG), Omnichannel Education Manager, Four Sigmatic