Tripot Teapot by Matthew Pauk

I’m a little teapot, short and stout. Indeed, industrial designer Matthew Pauk has taken the popular children’s song to heart. His Tripot Teapot is first a teapot, and second, a compact and cute sculpture. At first glance, the teapot could almost be mistaken for an abstract likeness of an elephant lifting its trunk in a smile. The rounded shape of the teapot and its bird-like spout continue the animalistic association. Perhaps Pauk intended this effect, since his simple and no-fuss teapot pokes fun at the snootiness that teatime usually connotes. The ceramic teapot – its name a parody of “tripod” – is lifted onto three legs that offer it more stability than meets the eye. The two front legs function as a fulcrum, allowing tea to be poured by merely tipping the teapot a few degrees forward. An ergonomic handle and controlled-efficiency spout make this teapot an improvement among more traditional contenders. This teapot also comes with the promise that tea will always be served at the right temperature, for the underbelly of the teapot leaves enough room for a candle to keep the beverage warm. Time to put those tealights to good use!