Harriete Estel Berman
Teapot

Harriete Estel Berman (American, b. 1952)
Consuming Good Taste 1999
Pre-printed steel
10.75 x 11.5 x 7.25″
Kamm Collection 2004.121
Photos: Kevin O’Dwyer

Metalsmith Harriete Estel Berman used “found” materials to create this teapot sculpture. She collected cookie tins having printed images of famous paintings. These tins were cut into pieces and assembled into this multi-sided teapot form.

Berman asks us to contemplate the relationship between art and commerce: “Why print famous paintings on tin cans to sell cookies and candy? Art reproductions on tin cans reflect the perceived role of art in our consumer society. Do products using images of art imply that the product tastes good — or that the consumer has good taste?”

Read more about this sculpture on the artist’s website and see more of her thought-provoking work.

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