theeservies

Lucie Rie's workshop was set up in London during World War II. Hans Coper joined her in the studio as an assistant. Both artists, poverty stricken refugees, struggled to survive. After the war was over, they could spend time working on tableware which was good source of income for a potter. This tea set was one of their collaborative productions. Both their names were stamped into the surface. Coper would use their initials to designate that he did the work, although it was under the supervision of Rie in her workshop. Typical of their collaborative work, the forms are thin and delicate. Each piece is slightly altered from their perfectly symmetrical shape. This is a subtle but perceptible modification that visually connects the individual components. Moreover, the tactility of the work is of utmost importance; it is a tea set that you want to hold in your hands.