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JoinParticipants will learn how to throw and assemble the different parts of a teapot, refine spouts and lids, and create accompanying yunomi (Japanese tea cups). Teapots are one of the most rewarding forms in pottery, and this course will guide students step-by-step through the process. This is not a beginner pottery course. Students must be able to center and throw basic pottery shapes using 1-2 lbs of clay.
The teapot is one of the most celebrated and complex forms in ceramics, with roots tracing back to the Ming Dynasty in China and the iconic Yixing clay teapots. As tea culture spread across Asia, the teapot evolved into a deeply personal object shaped by regional traditions, from the Japanese kyusu to Chinese gongfu teapots.
Making a teapot by hand requires throwing multiple components (body, lid, spout, and handle) and assembling them into a single, cohesive piece. Every element must work together: the lid must fit snugly, the spout must pour cleanly, and the handle must feel balanced in the hand. This course breaks down each step over five weeks so students can focus on one stage at a time. By the end, you will have a complete, functional tea set made entirely by your own hands.
