The “Tea Matter” tea strainer presented for the first time in the Alessi Fall/Winter 2010 collection could be defined as a modern communication project which contains several items. Alan Chan did not merely provide a beguiling project for a well-articulated and appealing product. He also did some background work which defines the landscape and the cultural climate in which the objects are set. A lot of the traditional Chinese features, such as the beautiful wording on the “Tea Caddy” tins, merge into the objects, defining their shape and decoration. The story behind it all takes the shape of a beautiful tradition of Chinese nobility who loved to get together and drink tea, bringing along their songbirds in a cage. The merging of this poetic image with the ritual and functional aspects of brewing tea led to the creation of these charming objects.
“Tea Matter” consists of a birdcage that contains a bird-inspired tea strainer: when the tea strainer is lifted out so it can be used, the melodic sound of a bird chirping can be heard. The tea strainer can be accompanied by the “Tea Matter”, tea caddies, one of which decorated with an illustration inspired by Chinese lithographic limestone of around Ching dynasty, and the other with Chinese characters that form a Song Dynasty (960-1279) poem dedicated to the ritual of tea. The phrase means “having a pure heart is possible” (清心也可以) and can be read beginning with any character.
The “Tea Matter” logo, inspired by the traditional graphics of Chinese seals, was designed together with the packaging by the product designer.
