EVA Tea Set: A Tribute to Sensual CeramicsMaia Ming Fong's Award-Winning Design Celebrates Eva Zeisel's Legacy
Maia Ming Fong's EVA tea set, a tribute to the iconic ceramicist Eva Zeisel, is a testament to the sensual and tactile appeal of ceramics. With its unique shape and impeccable pour, the tea set is a pleasure to use and behold. It's a design that invites interaction, with cups that nestle comfortably in the hand and a teapot that pours beautifully, thanks to its distinctive shape.
The EVA tea set was inspired by the work of Eva Zeisel, a renowned ceramicist known for her sensual and tactile ceramics. Zeisel once said, "My designs are meant to attract the hand as well as the eye," a philosophy that Fong has embraced in her own work. The EVA tea set is a tribute to Zeisel's legacy, embodying the same sense of tactile pleasure and visual appeal.
What sets the EVA tea set apart is its seductive elegance and functional design. The teapot boasts an unusual shape, with the spout blending seamlessly into the body, facilitating a perfect pour. The cups, versatile and tactile, are designed to nestle comfortably in the hand. Available in glossy white with a silver-plated ring or black matte porcelain with a glossy white lid and white-rimmed cups, the EVA tea set is a delight to the senses.
The creation of the EVA tea set involved plaster slip-cast molds for porcelain. The technical specifications of the design include dimensions for the teapot and cups, as well as a stainless steel filter fitted inside. Each piece requires a fair amount of artisan hand finishing to complete, reflecting the care and attention to detail that goes into each set.
The EVA tea set was first introduced in 2013, with prototypes shown at Maison and Objet and the Disseny Hub in Barcelona. The design was the result of extensive research and testing, including studies of different teapots, articles about pour optimization, and in-home use by key team members and family. The result is a tea set that is as functional as it is beautiful, with an impeccable pour and a tactile appeal that invites interaction.
The EVA tea set has been recognized for its design excellence, winning the Golden A' Bakeware, Tableware, Drinkware and Cookware Design Award in 2014. The award is granted to outstanding creations that reflect the designer's prodigy and wisdom, embodying extraordinary excellence and significantly impacting the world with their desirable characteristics. The EVA tea set is a fitting tribute to Eva Zeisel, a design that celebrates the sensual and tactile appeal of ceramics.
Project Details and Credits
Project Designers: Maia Ming Fong
Image Credits: Image #1: Peer van der Weeg, EVA tea set, 2013
Image #2: Peer van der Weeg, EVA tea set, 2013
Image #3: Peer van der Weeg, EVA tea set, 2013
Image #4: Peer van der Weeg, EVA tea set, 2013
Image #5: Peer van der Weeg, EVA tea set, 2013
Project Team Members: Maia Ming Fong (designer)
Claudi de José (modelmaker)
Project Name: EVA tea set
Project Client: Maia Ming Fong