Tea: The Global Infusion
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Catalogue of Exhibits
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Artists
Sonja Hornung
In the dream of the man who was dreaming, the dreamt man awoke
2007, installation, teabags, thread and paper
Artist's private collection
Warisa Somsuphangsri
Jasmine
2007, Polaroid on porcelain
Artist's private collection
Transfer printing is a technique commonly used for printing on porcelain. It is a method of applying an image to a curved or uneven surface. Evolved in England in the 1750s, the technique involves adding pigments and oil onto engravings on a copper plate. The image is then transferred to a piece of paper or fabric, and placed on ceramics before the final stage of glazing and firing to make the image permanent.
Instead of transfer printing, I have used the technique of Polaroid emulsion lift to achieve this similar effect. I took a picture of a flower on a slide film and transferred this to a Polaroid film. The image of the flower is then removed from its background, cut and shaped to fit the curves of this tea cup and saucer. The emulsion is then lifted off and carefully placed onto the porcelain surface and left to dry.
Kei Murakami
After Rain
2007, tea leaves on watercolour paper
Artist's private collection
A poetic depiction of a forest using tea leaves as watercolour.
Elaine Hogarty
Not my cup of tea
2007, teabags and wire
Artist's private collection
The spoons which are included as part of my response for the tea project have been collected over the last 20 years by the late Don Blackie of Templestowe, Victoria.
East Asian Collection
Baiquan Liang
Yixing zi sha (Yixing purple clay ware)
[Beijing]: Wen wu chu ban she; [Xianggang]: Liang mu chu ban she, 1990
Zhongguo: cha de gu xiang (China: homeland of tea)
[Xianggang]: Xianggang wen hua jiao yu chu ban she; [Beijing]: Zhongguo tu chan xu chan jin chu kou zong gong si, 1989
Xuanhua Liao mu bi hua (Tomb murals of Liao dynasty in Xuanhua)
Beijing: Wen wu chu ban she, 2001
Zhonghua cha ye wu qian nian (5000 years of Chinese tea)
Beijing: Ren min chu ban she, 2001
Chatei (The garden adjacent to tea-ceremony house)
[Tokyo]: Mainichi Shinbunsha, 1990
Chanoyu Quarterly
Kyoto, Japan: Urasenke Foundation of Kyoto, Japan, no. 49, 1987
Sokyu Kazama
Chatei (Tea garden)
Tokyo: Kodansha, 1995
Shuqin Fu and Xun Ouyang
Lu Yu cha jing yi zhu (Interpretation of Lu Yu’s The Classic of Tea)
[Wuhan]: Hubei ren min chu ban she: Hubei sheng xin hua shu dian fa xing, 1983
Grainger Museum
Eiraku Wazen (Japanese)
Tea cup and saucer set
Early 20th century, porcelain, red glazing, gold-leaf decoration
This tea set was purchased by Rose Grainger on 4 November 1920 from Wahman & Co. Importers of Chinese and Japanese goods, New York.
Unknown maker (Japanese)
Tray
1950s, wood, lacquer, gold-leaf decoration
This tray was used by Percy and Ella Grainger during their 1955-6 working visit to the Grainger Museum.
Unknown photographer
Percy and Ella Grainger outside the Grainger Museum 1955-6
Reproduction of original Silver gelatin print
Unknown maker (British)
Tea pot
[n.d.] Brittania metal, ebonised wood
Unknown maker (British)
Apostle spoons
[n.d.] Sheffield plate
Unknown maker (English)
Small gate-leg table
Early 18th century, fumed oak
Unknown maker, possibly Ernest Gimson (1863-1919)
Set of two ladder-backed chairs
Late 19th–early 20th century, wood, rush seat
Whilst living in England prior to the First World War, Percy Grainger and his mother Rose developed a very eclectic collection of furniture which included these ladder back chairs believed to be designed by Arts & Crafts architect Ernest Gimson. The Graingers also purchased antique solid timber furniture such as this gate-leg table dating from circa 1700.
Ian Potter Museum of Art - The University of Melbourne Art Collection
Rupert Bunny
Untitled (Morning tea)
c.1901–02, oil monotype on wove paper
Gift of the Bunny Estate 1948
Bunny is credited with introducing colour to the technique of monotype, or 'oil drawings'. An article on 'Mr Rupert Bunny's Oil Drawings' (The Magazine of Art 1898) describes the process: "Mr Bunny's drawings are made upon a zinc plate in transparent colours. The lights are, of course, left, and the colour is applied with brushes, rag, or even his fingers... The work necessarily has to be done quickly as once the paint begins to dry it is apt to stick when the painting stage is reached... For the purposes of printing, he used the strongest blotting paper that can be obtained, and the transfer is made by the pressure of an india-rubber roller, Mr Bunny having found this is much better than using a press, as an uneven pressure is oftentimes advantageous." Most monotypes by Bunny have a monogram scraped into the medium with a sharp tool, though some are also signed 'Rupert CW Bunny' in the bottom margin.
Unknown maker (Chinese)
Stoneware conical tea bowl with Jianyao hare fur glaze
[n.d ]
Gift of Dr Geoffrey Kaye 1986
Unknown maker (English)
Tea caddy with satinwood inlay and ebony stringing,
c.1795
Gift of Dr Geoffrey Kaye 1986
E. and Co. Ltd. Great Britain
Sugar bowl
Cream jug
Tea pot
Hot water jug
1854-55 Sterling silver
Gift of Colin Calhaem 1989
Unknown maker (Chinese)
Miniature round bulbous cloisonné teapot with domed lid
(19th century) Brass, copper and enamel
Gift of the Russell and Mab Grimwade Bequest 1973
Ian Potter Museum of Art - The Leonhard Adam Collection of International Indigenous Culture
Unknown maker (Chinese)
Teapot
[n.d.] Steatite (soapstone)
Medical History Museum
Inscribed 'P M' in brown, below handle
Majolica drug jar
c.1670. Italian ceramic infusion jar, Aqa D Fior D Sanbuco – for infusion of elderberry flowers
Roseby Collection
The hand made and decorated herbal infusion jar, made individually for the apothecary, enabled him to freshly prepare and dispense his herbal teas to customers seeking remedies for their ailments, as seen here in the example of elder flower water, for constipation and bladder gravel.
Unknown maker (Continental manufacture)
Drink warmer
Late 19th/early 20th century. White porcelain tea pot and pedestal (decorated with gold), containing wax burner or heating pan
If used to provide hot tea for an invalid throughout the night, the candle glow would also have served as a comforting night light.
Unknown maker
Invalid feeding cup
Possibly late 19th century. Plain cream coloured earthenware feeding cup with pale blue glaze, handle attached opposite the curved spout (with sieve holes) and with flat, ogee-edged half-cover.
Unknown maker
Invalid feeding cup
Mid 20th century. White ceramic feeding cup with slightly convex half cover with ogee edge, handle attached to the right of the curved spout. Decorated with red Maltese cross on cover and touches of gold on upper rim, handle and spout.
Barrie Thompson Collection
Unknown maker (manufacturer’s stamp on base ‘WT’)
Invalid feeding cup
Probably late 19th century. Small white ceramic feeding cup with half cover with simplified ogee edge. Tall, curved spout with oval outlet, and handle attached to the right. A graduated measure, marked in ounces is inscribed on inner surface of bowl and the outer edges of rim, cover, spout and handle bear traces of gold decoration.
Barrie Thompson Collection
Unknown maker
Feeding cup or pap boat
[n. d.] Plain, ceramic, open boat-shaped vessel, with spout (also open) as a continuation of the body. With indentations on either side of body for finger holds (in place of handle).
Royal Women's Hospital
Post-operative observation chart
1916
Courtesy the Royal Women's Hospital Archives
The mass production and widespread availability of ceramics following the industrialisation of the pottery industry in the 18th century meant that these items could be purchased by even the poorest households at affordable cost.
Their presence in most homes and hospitals during the 19th to mid 20th century indicate that this was the period of 'the convalescent', when sufferers of chronic infectious diseases and fevers, like tuberculosis and typhoid, were nursed for long periods, often at home, by family members.
Adequate fluid intake was particularly important following surgery, for the hospital patient too, and before the introduction of the intravenous drip these fluids had to be delivered orally – a difficult procedure with an often confused, febrile and weak patient, unable to manage a cup, even with assistance. Much patience and frequent coaxing were required to see that the necessary fluids, medication and nourishment were taken. A spouted drinking vessel for infusions of tea, soups or other liquids, delivered the vital fluids more reliably and made the work of the carer a little easier.
A glance at the hospital post-operative chart indicates how frequently the nurse had to offer fluids, even by sips, post surgery to maintain her patient's fluid balance and a much loved 'cuppa' would have been a welcome change from water or beef tea. Drinks like hot tea needed to be constantly at hand by day and night and a drink warmer (such as exhibited here) would have provided this service and, with its comforting night light, helped many a patient through a long and restless night.
Print Collection
Lionel Lindsay
Morning Tea
1924, wood engraving
James Tingle (engraver), Thomas Allom (artist)
Loading Tea-junks at Tseen-Tang
[n.d.] Steel plate engraving and etching
Lionel Lindsay
The Chinese Kettle
1925, engraving
Special Collections
Adele Outteridge
Tea Tag Book
2006
AX Collection
Adele Outteridge
Tea Bag Book
2004
AX Collection
The London Genuine Tea Company
A Brief Account of the Tea Plant: dedicated to the ladies
London: The Company, (18--?) (London: Gye and Balne) 18–?
Morgan Collection
China: as it was, and as it is. With a glance at the tea and opium trades
London: Cradock and Co, 1842
BX Collection
The Natural History of Remarkable Trees, Shrubs, and Plants
London: Printed for the executrix of the late W. Wetton: sold by Chas. & Edwin Layton, 1836
Morgan Collection
Isaac Taylor
Scenes in Asia, for the Amusement and Instruction of LittleTarry-at-home Travellers
London: Printed for Harris and Son, 1821 (London: S. & R. Bentley) Second edition
Copy is inscribed: "E.S. Walker, presented by her dear Uncle George, 1822."
Morgan Collection
H.H. Emmerson and J.G. Sowerby (illustrators)
Afternoon Tea: rhymes for children
London: Frederick Warne & Co, 1880
Copy is inscribed: "J. Snell, Swindon, Wilts."
Morgan Collection
J.G. Sowerby and Thomas Crane (illustrators)
At Home
London: Marcus Ward,1881
Copy is inscribed: "William Bernard Newmarch Swain, on his seventh birthday: 25th October 1885 ..."
Morgan Collection
Mary and Elizabeth Kirby
Aunt Martha’s Corner Cupboard, or, Stories about Tea, Coffee, Sugar, Rice, &c.
London: T. Nelson,1889
Morgan Collection
John Sims
Curtis’s Botanical Magazine, or, Flower-Garden Displayed
London: Printed by Stephen Couchman for W. Curtis,1807
BX Collection
Friedrich Christian Accum
A Treatise on Adulterations of Food, and Culinary Poisons: exhibiting the fraudulent sophistications of bread, beer, wine, spirituous liquors, tea, coffee, cream, confectionery, vinegar, mustard, pepper, cheese, olive oil, pickles, and other articles employed in domestic economy and methods of detecting them
London: Printed by J. Mallett, ... sold by Longman, Hurst, Rees, Orme and Brown 1820
BX Collection
Robert Fortune
A Journey to the Tea-Countries of China, including Sung-Lo and the Bohea Hills. With a short notice of the East India Company’s tea plantations in the Himalaya mountains
London: J. Murray, 1852
BX Collection
George M. Barker
A Tea Planter’s Life in Assam
Calcutta: Thacker, Spink, 1884
Villiers Collection
Samuel G. Goodrich
A National Geography for Schools
New York: Huntington and Savage, 1848. New edition, with 60 maps
Copy is inscribed: "Master Wm. Hodges, a present from his uncle, John Hobday."
Morgan Collection
Joseph Crawhall
Old Aunt Elspa’s ABC: we’ll soon learn to read, then how clever we’ll be
London: Field & Tuer, 1884
Morgan Collection
Warne’s Mounted Picture Toy Book: comprising Cock Robin’s courtship, Nursery numbers, The robins, The tiny tea party
London: Warne, 187–?
Morgan Collection
Pierre Pomet
A Compleat History of Drugs
Printed for J. and J. Bonwicke, R. Wilkin, S. Birt, T. Ward and E. Wickfteed , 1737. Third edition.
Rare Books Collection
A.J. Wallis-Tayler
Tea Machinery and Tea Factories: a descriptive treatise on the mechanical appliances required in the cultivation of the tea plant and the preparation of tea for the market
London: Crosby Lockwood and son, 1900
The Poll-Parrot Picture Book: containing Tittums and Fido, Ann and her Mamma, Reynard the fox, The cats’ tea-party/ with twenty-four pages of illustrations printed in colours by Kronheim
London: Routledge, 1870?
Copy is inscribed: "Miss Winifred Davies ... 5 December 1871."
Morgan Collection
Mrs Campbell Praed
Miss Jacobsen’s Chance: a story of Australian life
London: Ward and Downey, 1890
McLaren Collection
Isabella L. Bird
Unbeaten Tracks in Japan: an account of travels in the interior including visits to the aborigines of Yezo and the shrine of Nikko
London: J. Murray, 1907
Lewis Carroll
Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland
London: Bodley Head, 19—? Illustrations by W.H. Walker
Copy has the bookplate of W.D. Burt
Morgan Collection
Lewis Carroll
Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland
London: Macmillan, 1899. Illustrations by John Tenniel
Morgan Collection
John Tenniel
Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland Chapter VII. Illustration: ‘The Hatter opened his eyes very wide on hearing this; but all he said was, “Why is a raven like a writing desk?”
London: Macmillan, 1988
BX Collection
John Tenniel
Through the Looking Glass, 1988. Chapter VII. Illustration: ‘Ten minutes allowed for refreshments!’
London: Macmillan, 1988
BX Collection
George Henry Mason
The Costume of China
London: Printed for W. Miller ... by S. Gosnell, 1800
Rare Books Collection
Herbert Ponting
In Lotus-Land Japan
London: Macmillan, 1910
BX Collection
Ortus Sanitatis
Mainz: Jacob Meydenbach, 23 June, 1491
Rare Books Collection
Engelbert Kaempfer
The History of Japan: giving an account of the ancient and present state and government of that empire; of its temples, palaces, castles and other buildings; of its metals, minerals, trees, plants, animals, birds and fishes… / Written in High-Dutch by Engelbertus Kæmpfer and translated from his original manuscript, never before printed, by J. G. Scheuchzer
London: Printed for the Translator, 1727. Translation of Geschichte und Beschreibung von Japan
BX Collection
George Philip & Son
Betts’s New Portable Terrestrial Globe
London: George Philip & Son, 1866?
Morgan Collection
Lise Melhorn-Boe
The Tale of the Tea Bags
Canada: Transformer Press, 2006
BX Collection
John Coakley Lettsom
The Natural History of the Tea Tree: with observations on the medicinal qualities, and effects of tea-drinking
London: Edward and Charles Dilly, 1772
BX Collection
Normana Wight
Tea: a user’s guide
1999
AX Collection
Samuel Johnson
A dictionary of the English language: in which the words are deduced from their originals, and illustrated in the different significations by examples from the best writers. To which are prefixed, a history of the language and the English grammar
(reproduction)
Dublin: Printed for Thomas Ewing, 1775 4th edition
BX Collection
Pro Hart
Waltzing Matilda: being a suite of seven etchings to mark the centenary anniversary of the writing of Australia’s most significant poem/ Written by Andrew Barton 'Banjo' Paterson ; illustrated by Kevin Charles 'Pro' Hart.
Melbourne: Littlewood Press, 1995
AX Collection
Anne-Maree Hunter
Tea 4 Two
2003, slip case with screen printed text, teaspoon and metal leaves containing two artists’ books: Iced Tea and Hot Tea
AX Collection
Anne-Maree Hunter
Tassiology: reading the teacup
2002, intaglio on tea-stained tea bag paper & embossing
AX Collection
University of Melbourne Archives
Chinese silk paintings
Strathfieldsaye Estate Collection
Scrapbook containing Chinese silk paintings
Una Porter Collection
Mutual Store Tea Tin
[n.d.]
Mutual Store Collection
Victoria College of the Arts Gallery - Margaret Lawrence Australian Ceramic Collection
Yvonne Boyd
Teacup and saucer
c.1949, earthenware cup and saucer, hand painted flora in green and plum on white background with copper green glaze.
Glenn England
Teapot and cup
[n.d.] Tea pot with carved lattice style surface decoration, porcelain with soft copper glaze and porcelain cup with fluted and carved decoration with soft copper glaze.
Julie Shaw
a) Teapot; b) cup; c) sugar container; d) spoon; e) platter
[n.d.] Mid-fired terracotta tea set, hand built with copper glaze
Gerry Wedd
Teapot and stand (kangaroo decoration)
2004
Fleur Schell
Teapot and cup
2004, porcelain, green glaze
Sarah Howsen
Three piece tea set
2004, earthenware, pit fired
Ian Dowling
Teapot on legs
2004, woodfired copper, iron glazes
Private Collections
Royal Doulton tea set
Porcelain tea set, inscriptions on base: 13 next to the crown possibly made in 1913, Somerset design
Unknown Maker (Launceston, Tasmania)
The small white linen and lace tablecloth
c. 1950, each of the twelve hand crochet lace doilies decorating the edge is an individual design
Unknown Maker
Teapot, strainer, cup, saucer and plate
Wedgewood teapot
c1860s
Maker Unknown
Chabako (Picnic Tea Set)
Natsume (Tea Caddy)
Senzutsu (Whisk and Holder)
Kogo (Incense Holder)
Chashaku (Tea Scoop)
Collection of Ms Ritsuko Greenwood
Koun (Maker)
Chawan (tea bowl)
Furidashi (Sweet Container)
Kinzutsu (Napkin Holder)
Collection of Ms Ritsuko Greenwood
Syrian tea cups
[n.d]
Turkish tea cups and saucers
[n.d]
Moroccan teapots
[n.d]
Tea straws (South American)
[n.d.]