Design Sketch for a Teapot, 1921

This design sketch for a teapot by architect, designer and graphic artist Dagobert Peche (1887–1923), dated 1921, exemplifies the first fixation of an artistic idea. Peche used pencil and colored pencils for the drawing on squared paper. The approximately oval shape of the teapot is kept simple but elegant: The actual body of the vessel with spout and handle is supported by a conical base and capped by a lid with round knob. The blue coloring running along the facets suggests that the object was meant to be made in glazed ceramic or porcelain. Additional decorative elements like grapes, a flower and a star are indicated in pencil. A horizontal line labeled “Sugar” marks out the height of the sugar bowl of the intended tea service. In the bottom right corner, the artist monogrammed and dated the sheet with his unmistakable signet.

MR, 2021