This teapot is hand raised from a single sheet of silver, as an experiment, inspired by Japanese teapots made that way (which have small snub spouts).

The swooping handle is hand carved from Lavender slate from the Nantlle valley, where my workshop is.

My 'Nantlle' teapot (named for the valley where my workshop is in Eryri/Snowdonia) was designed partly to be an experiment in deliberately extending silversmithing skills after looking at Japanese teapots raised from a single sheet, including a stubby little spout integrally hammered from the body of the pot, not soldered on. I wanted to see if I could do the same, but make it more elegant, and push the boundaries. It's not possible to stretch the metal this far, it would thin too much, so it's more a case of highly selective and targeted raising, which is tricky, as the metal thickens rather than thins, and it becomes very challenging, especially to get tools inside the teapot. To extend the experiment, I designed an elegantly curved handle, which I hand carved from a piece of slate foraged from the quarry beside my workshop. It is fine grained, strong, non-conductive and takes a fine finish, not to mention a beautiful colour that compliments silver, perfect for a teapot handle, if a little unconventional.

The teapot has a double ringed foot for balance and aesthetic detail, and the knop is also carved slate. It pours beautifully.

2023 17 x 16.5 x 10cm Britannia silver, carved welsh slate

If you would like to find out more about the available collection pieces, I would be delighted to have an informal no-obligation chat.