Loewe Is Everyone’s Cup of Tea With Latest Project to Be Showcased at Milan Design Week
- Sandra Salibian
- Apr 7
- 4 min read
Updated: Apr 9
The brand is presenting a collection of crafty teapots developed by 25 artists, designers and architects, ranging from David Chipperfield to Patricia Urquiola.
Dan McCarthy's piece, part of Loewe Teapots. Courtesy of Loewe
MILAN – A German saying that goes “Abwarten und Tee Trinken” and literally translates as “wait and drink tea” fits well with the transitional moment Loewe is experiencing, as well as its latest project to be unveiled at Salone del Mobile this week.
While the brand is gearing up to open a new chapter on Monday under the creative direction of Proenza Schouler’s duo Jack McCollough and Lazaro Hernandez — who are succeeding Jonathan Anderson’s successful 11 year-tenure at the Spanish house — it is also to stage its ninth presentation at the buzzy design week here.
This time, the label will showcase a collection of crafty teapots developed by 25 well-known artists, designers and architects. To be exhibited at Palazzo Citterio from Tuesday to April 13, the items will spotlight different takes on the everyday object, casting an arty and experimental light on its familiar shape.
Jane Yang-D’Haene’s piece, part of Loewe Teapots. Courtesy of Loewe
European talents involved in the project include Spain’s Patricia Urquiola and Laia Arqueros; architect David Chipperfield, painter Rose Wylie and artists Sam Bakewell and Edmund de Waal, all hailing from the U.K.; German artist Rosemarie Trockel ,and Italian artist and gallerist Tommaso Corvi-Mora.
These are in addition to American artists Dan McCarthy and Walter Price, as well as Damascus-born Lebanese artist Simone Fattal and South African ceramic artist Madoda Fani.
Deng Xiping’ piece, part of Loewe Teapots. Courtesy of Loewe
Loewe also commissioned pieces from numerous Asian talents, including architect Wang Shu, ceramic artist Lu Bin, and artists Chen Min and Deng Xiping from China; South Korea’s architect Minsuk Cho and ceramic artists Inchin Lee and Jane Yang-D’Haene; Japan’s designer Naoto Fukasawa, sculptor Masaomi Yasunaga, ceramists Shozo Michikawa, Akio Niisato, and Takayuki Sakiyama, and Kyoto-based ceramic studio Suna Fujita, which has collaborated with the brand in the past.
Each artist has reimagined the teapot’s distinctive elements such as the spout and handle by playing with scale and proportions, and experimenting with different glazes, finishes and textures, even when working with traditional mediums like porcelain and ceramic.
Akio Niisato’s piece, part of Loewe Teapots. Courtesy of Loewe
For example, shallow perforations that enable light to piece through define Niisato’s teapot, while 3D flowers adorn Fukasawa’s interpretation. Woven leather handles top both Fattal and Michikawa’s teapots, while Chipperfield opted for a copper handle for its glazed cobalt blue design.
Embracing two different styles, both Bin and Fani chose to leave their teapots unglazed, with the porosity of the surface allowing the flavors of the tea to seep into the clay.
Patricia Urquiola’s piece, part of Loewe Teapots. Courtesy of Loewe
Highlights include Urquiola’s abstract and dégradé pink-hued take on the object; Xiping’s elongated teapot, with its handle and spout positioned on a diagonal; Trockel’s extra-minimal version; Fujita’s animal-shaped iteration, and Corvi-Mora’s colorful and totem-like interpretation.
Tommaso Corvi-Mora’s piece, part of Loewe Teapots. Courtesy of Loewe
Other standouts range from Wylie’s take riffing on British Royal Albert china tea sets to Price’s teapot ironically coming with a broken handle, Yang-D’Haene’s version charmingly wrapped in frayed ribbons of clay and Sakiyama’s appearing to beautifully swirl upward from a continuous piece of clay.
Takayuki Sakiyama’s piece, part of Loewe Teapots. Courtesy of Loewe
These arty pieces will add to teapots Loewe produced in collaboration with Spanish artisans using Galician clay in either a raw finish or with a choice of silver or gold glazes, which take inspiration from the handcrafted ceramic tiles adorning the Casa Loewe store facades.
Flanking the range, a selection of homewares produced by Loewe will also be offered during Salone del Mobile, encompassing coasters made from woven leather, fun tea cosies and a selection of cute leather charms in the shape of tea bags, chamomile, strawberries and bergamot flowers.
A teapot by Loewe. Marta Fernandez Zurro/Courtesy of Loewe
In collaboration with Kaikado — the Japanese producers of tinplate “chazutsu” established in Kyoto in 1875 — the brand also developed a series of tin-plated tea caddies, whose lids have been embellished with rabbits, flowers and mice in brass and leather. The caddies are available in three sizes, with the largest one paired with a leather case, too.
Also specifically created for the Milan event, a special edition of an Earl Grey tea candle that combines black tea and bergamot oil will come in a lusterware terracotta vessel, brush-painted with iridescent pigment enriched with real gold.
As for the actual tea, the blend “Fiori e Sapori” created with Postcard Teas and mixing black tea leaves from India, French lemon verbena, Moroccan roses, Croatian chamomile and Italian bergamot oil will be available to purchase from Monday exclusively at Postcard Teas’ website and its store in London.
Loewe’s tea caddies developed with Kaikado. Courtesy of Loewe
The “Loewe Teapots” project will mark the fashion house’s ninth showcase at the annual Milan design event, which offers the company the opportunity to further experiment with craftsmanship and creativity across various categories. Previous iterations centered on tapestries, explored weaving techniques and basketry and even reimagined stick chairs or, most recently, lamps.
Celebrating its commitment to craft and its 179 years of history, Loewe just unveiled the Japanese leg of the “Crafted World” show that debuted in Shanghai last year.
Laia Arqueros’ piece, part of Loewe Teapots. Courtesy of Loewe
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