Paul Cardew 'Eterni-Tea' Very Rare Event Piece | Signed, TP286
Paul Cardew

Paul Cardew 'Eterni-Tea' | Very Rare Millennium Collectors Club Event Sculpture

A Masterpiece of Ceramic Art: This work of art is extraordinary. It is the largest collection of teapot, figurine and stand ever produced by Paul Cardew.  Commissioned exclusively for the Millennium Collectors Club event in November 1999, 'Eterni-Tea' celebrates Cardew Design's 10th anniversary. This was never released for general commercial sale, making it an essential acquisition for the serious Cardew connoisseur.

The "Eterni-Tea" Construction: This tableau is a multi-part masterpiece. It was a limited run of just 500 pieces worldwide. Taking over 2 years to design and construct, Paul personally told us that it had been the most difficult project he and his talented team had ever undertaken. Each piece was hand cast and decorated with the Globe teapot gilded with 18 ct gold. Obviously the lid features as the North Pole.

The Atlas figure is placed on a large ceramic plinth modelled as a ruined ancient temple. The ruins include broken down pillars and all sorts of memorabilia and clues about ancient teapots and Cardew's ancient history. Paul joked that any rumours that Atlas's torso is modelled on the toned and honed body of Paul Cardew are absolutely accurate.

Provenance & Rarity:

• Strictly Limited: This was a limited run of just 500 pieces ever created worldwide—an exceptionally small production run even by Event standards. It's very possible that in fact there were fewer finally produced.

• Personally Authenticated: Signed and dated by Paul Cardew himself , along with, Tom Johnston, Chris Bennett and Gary West.

• Investment Quality: As an "Event-Only" piece, this sculpture carries a level of prestige and scarcity that far exceeds standard production teapots.

Approx Dimensions:-

Total Piece

23 in (58.5 cm) tall

Base

6.5 in (16.5 cm) tall

12 in (30 cm) wide

9 in (23 cm) deep

Figurine

9.5 in (24 cm) tall

8.5 in (22 cm) wide

9.5 in (24 cm) deep

Teapot

7 in (18 cm) tall

9.5 in (24 cm) spout to handle

5.5 (14 cm) width

Paul Cardew 

Master Teapot Maker is a title not everyone is worthy to hold, but Paul Cardew is certainly entitled to. He is no doubt the world's best known designer and producer of novelty teapots. With his exceptional modelling skills and incredible imagination, he and his team created the most marvellous collection of amazing and intricate designs possible. Initially created in his kitchen, he converted his 19th century farmhouse in Devon into a complex dedicated to produce his masterpieces from start to finish, eventually employing a substantial team of talented individuals as the business grew with such popularity. From initial concept, sculpting the idea into 3D, making the moulds, through to three kiln firings, hand painting, adding identifying marks, signatures and limited edition numbers; some of the large teapots could take the skilled team eight days to produce! Some of the teapots are gilded with 18ct gold and silver/platinum. That is dedication to one's art and he is loved all the more for it, his wit, skill and imagination have no boundaries. The teapots come in four different sizes; large, medium (2 cup), small (one cup) and Tiny (the smallest and diddiest of them all as they are approximately 2 inches (5cm) in size and make make perfect Christmas decorations). All but the Tiny teapots are actually functioning teapots, not that you would ever risk using them as they are too precious and works of art; best to be looked at and appreciated in all their glory. In 2008 Paul retired from being a hectically busy teapot designer and so all of his works of art have become far more collectable than ever they were before, some commanding incredibly high prices.

Cardew Studio Range

The Cardew Studio range of products are very special items. The complex and astounding results were designed by Paul Cardew and ONLY produced at the pottery in Woodmanton Farm, England. Each incredible design from this range had very limited editions, some as low as 500 and only ever a maximum of 2,000. Hours and hours of work went into the production of these premium editions, making them truly works of art. Due to the highest levels of manual studio skills that were lavished on these designs, each piece is totally unique with no two pieces being the same. Although completely contrasting in their designs, from Disney to Eterni-Tea, each one is unparalled in it's demonstration of quality, technique and individuality. Paul Cardew's reputation and incredible skills as a scultor and potter, along with his ingenuity and wit, have made this, the Cardew Studio range, THE most elaborate and collectable and he has ever produced. 

Personally Signed Teapots

Many of the teapots we sell have been personally signed in gold by Paul Cardew himself and will be stated as such in the details. At special events that Paul Cardew held to promote the latest teapot designs, he and other members of his design team that attended also personally signed teapots bought by customers at the event. These team members included Chris Bennett - Design Studio Sculptor, Gary West - Mechanical 3D Sculptor and Tom Johnson - Studio Manager, who signed his signature 'Teapot Tom' and Claire who took over from Tom after he left. Any personally signed teapots are highly sought after, with more signatures the better!