Black basalt teapot and three cups

The ceramics of this artist have become increasingly ambitious in scale and in meaning over the years. Some of his work takes the form of monumental funerary jars, but on a more domestic scale he is best known for his composite groups of teapots and cups. This work is an object of contemplation but alludes to function - a contemporary piece that makes reference to the past. The matt-coloured clays and clean-cut shapes link to a classical English tradition. By contrast, the twiggy wisteria handle could suggest an alternative to the cane handle, an oriental detail conjuring up the Japanese tradition of tea drinking and its related ceremonies.