Susanne Farrington
2788 Johnny Cake Hill Rd
Hamilton, NY 13346
(315) 824-1106
"I produce functional pottery such as mugs, bowls, and colanders. My work is know for its practical simplicity, comfortable handles, and animal decorations executed in a calligraphic style. My wares are microwave safe, oven-proof, and lead-free".
Susanne Farrington
The small teapots of Susanne Farrington are thrown on the potter's wheel, and
hand-assembled using individually-rolled spouts, making every teapot
unique. Since they have lead-free, non-toxic glazes, these teapots are
ready for functional use. Each holds about 2 cups of water.
It is best to first preheat with some hot tap water added to the teapot. When your tea water reaches a boil in a separate vessel on the stove, empty the preheat water, add loose tea or a teabag to the teapot, and pour in the boiling water. (Microwaving is not recommended.)
The teapots are either high-fired to stoneware density, or low-fired as porous, more fragile earthenware decorated with hand-brushed colorful glazes. The stoneware teapots have been dipped in a uniform coat of glaze which, during the firing becomes fluid at peak temperature, subtly highlighting finger ridges made when the clay was soft.
A two-step firing treatment has been given to the smoky-colored
teapots. These have been glazed white and high-fired, then packed with
sawdust in a brick enclosure outside. When the sawdust is well ignited, a
lid is placed on top of the enclosure, resulting in a smoldering burn at low
temperatures which leaves permanent smoke marks in the clay and lacy networks of
crackles in the glaze.
Decorative & Collectable, yet Functional, the miniature teapots by Susanne Farrington are individually hand-made. As each teapot is sold, its Website picture will be removed.
Available at:
Hamilton Farmers Market, May through October
Hamilton Whole Foods, (315) 824-2930
Picture Perfect, Canajoharie (315) 673-3066
or
or
You may phone (315) 824-1106 to make an appointment to visit my studio and see all kinds of Susanne Farrington pottery.
Description of Teapot-making to accompany the
photos:
(check back real soon! photos will soon be here for your viewing
pleasure!)
These teapots are entirely hand-made. No molds or forms are ever used. First, the teapot body and lid are thrown on the potters wheel, then trimmed. A spout is made by skewering a lump of clay on a dowel and rolling it on a table until the hole has sufficiently been enlarged. Slip out the dowel and dry the spout until it nearly matches the firmness of the teapot body, "leather-hard".
The spout is trimmed for a snug fit against the curve of the teapot. Slushy clay is applied to the base of the perfectly-fitting spout to imprint its position against the teapot. The hole is cut in the wall at that location, and the spout fastened.
Next, a handle is "pulled" from pliable clay and attached. Lids have generally been matched to teapots by this stage.
The teapot is then thoroughly dried and bisque-fired, which gives the clay wet-strength to withstand glazing. Glaze is applied to each teapot by dipping, or by bushing; brushing is a time-intensive process.
They are fired again to make the glaze permanent, glossy, and colorful. The pit-fired teapots are given a third firing, outdoors in a brick and metal enclosure packed with sawdust and other burnables which smolder at least a day and give a smoky, ancient appearance to the wares.
Call (315) 824-1106
Farrington is an active member of the Syracuse Ceramic Guild & Clay Expressions
Susan Sessions Connie Derrenbacher Denise Haviland Cate Valk