- Museum number
- 2014,8024.519.a-m
- Description
-
Tea-set, 'Tea for Two', porcelain, cast, with mould-made melamine tray, comprising tea-pot and lid (a-b), cream jug (c), sugar bowl and lid (d-e), two cups and two saucers (f,g,h,k) all with white glaze; the tray (m) in dark grey with vertical rim which curves in at each side to form grips.
- Production date
-
1997 (designed, tea-set)
-
2001 (designed, tray)
- Dimensions
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Diameter: 6.50 centimetres (bowl lid)
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Diameter: 8 centimetres (bowl)
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Diameter: 9.40 centimetres (cup)
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Diameter: 6.70 centimetres (jug)
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Diameter: 6.40 centimetres (lid)
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Diameter: 15 centimetres (saucer)
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Height: 4.70 centimetres (bowl lid)
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Height: 10.50 centimetres (bowl with lid)
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Height: 6.60 centimetres (bowl without lid)
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Height: 5.50 centimetres (cup)
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Height: 7.70 centimetres (jug)
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Height: 5 centimetres (lid)
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Height: 2.20 centimetres (saucer)
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Height: 17.80 centimetres (teapot with lid approx.)
-
Height: 15.10 centimetres (teapot without lid)
-
Height: 3 centimetres (tray)
-
Length: 32.70 centimetres (tray)
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Width: 30 centimetres (tray)
- $Inscriptions
-
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- Curator's comments
- The various pieces fit compactly on the tray, within the curved outline formed by the grips. Castiglioni has turned the rims of the saucers downwards, breaking with the user's expectations of a traditional upward-turning rim. The porcelain tableware was initially named 'Bavero' ('collar' in Italian) referring to the downturned rims which resembled a collar. When the tray was introduced in 2001, it was called 'Cabaré', referring to a cabaret set, the name given to a porcelain tea, coffee or chocolate set on a tray in the 18th century, see for example: 1887,0307,III.21. English usage adopts the French word 'cabaret'. Alessi's spelling, 'Cabaré, does not exist in French, and is either humorous or intended to explain the pronounciation. The tray and tea-set together were named 'Tea for Two'.
Alessi's own factory manufactures works in steel. Other materials are manufactured elsewhere in Italy or abroad. About two-thirds of Alessi's ceramic production is made in Germany. Alessi introduced ceramics in 1992, after acquiring the Tendentse tradename and catalogue in 1989. The Tendentse project had been set up in Livorno in 1985 by a group of artists including Ettore Sottsass and Alessandro Mendini to experiment with new ideas in ceramics as a way of reviving the artisan tradition. For further information, see M. Gabra-Liddell (ed), 'Alessi The Design Factory', London 1994, p. 114, and Alberto Alessi, 'The Dream Factory. Alessi since 1921', Milan 2000, p. 93.
See also Alessi catalogues for the full range of the 'Bavero' porcelain service, and the model numbers, each with the product code TAC (for Tendentse Achille Castiglioni). The tea-pot is TAC1/72, the milk jug TAC1/73, the sugar-bowl TAC1/75, the cups TAC1/78 and the saucers TAC1/79 (Alessi. General Catalogue, 2001, pp. 68-73). The tray has the code AC10 G (G for grey, it was also made in a wine colour).
- Location
- Not on display
- Acquisition date
- 2014
- Department
- Britain, Europe and Prehistory
- Registration number
- 2014,8024.519.a-m
