Tea Cup, Knife & Fork, Spoon
Isamu Noguchi, 1952
Although Tea Cup reveals the formal language of modern design, it is actually based on an ancient Japanese terracotta cup that was in Noguchi’s possession. With this tea cup and saucer Noguchi succeeded in creating a sculptural object that in a unique manner blended western Modernism with the traditional Japanese tea ceremony. The fork, knife, and teaspoon, which presumably were created around the same time, demonstrate how Isamu Noguchi should be seen as a sculptor rather than as a designer. Collection Vitra Design Museum.
