float tea lantern

"The tea lantern by Todd MacAllen and Stephanie Forsythe is clearly a model of product design in the great tradition of Mies and Jacobsen. The Canadian designers have used latest glass technology to create a transparent teapot with an integral vacuum jacket, which conserves heat and allows the simple cylinder to be picked up by hand."

The Architectural Review, ar+d awards 2002 - highly commended

Forsythe and MacAllen designed the tea lantern in 2001, as part of a study to create simple and beautiful objects designed of only a single material. Their inspiration for the tea lantern was the idea of such an object defining an intimate place of gathering, or contemplation, through qualities of light, warmth, fragrance and taste

At its debut, the tea lantern set won an important design competition in Europe, and went on to receive critical acclaim in a number of international design journals. Forsythe and MacAllen received requests from around the world for this product, but it was only after the creation of molo that the tea lantern actually became available for sale.

Although simple in form, the lantern and cups do require great precision and skill to produce. Each piece is carefully hand crafted by master glassblowers using the highest quality water clear borosilicate glass. This material is heat resistant, chemically resistant and inert, meaning that the tea lantern will not alter the purity of the tea flavor being steeped inside; the perfect material for the perfect cup of tea.

The float tea lantern and cups are also well suited for other beverages, such as chilled lemonade, hot mulled wine or even scotch. Whatever you serve, it is the liquid inside which is emphasized, becoming a lens of liquid color, suspended within the glass, projecting a play of colored light onto the table surface. For tea, if the warming candle is lit, the multi-sensory effect is truly engaging.

tea lantern......................$199.00 canadian
tea cups (set of two).....$ 79.00 canadian

float tea cups

"The (float) glass tea cups are made in the same (borosilicate glass) material (as the tea lantern): the inner cup supported by a glass cylinder. The (cups) can also be used for cold liquids as well as hot, without the handle of course; the cups make good whiskey glasses.

All jury members where impressed with the great thoughtfulness and precision of this piece of industrial design: its elegance, understanding of material qualities and classic calm".

The Architectural Review, ar+d awards 2002 - highly commended

The suspended bowl design at the bottom of the tea lantern and cups serves to elevate condensation away from the table surface. When used for cold drinks, beads of moisture from condensation cling to the rounded underbelly of the glass, adding delicacy to the optical effect.

The float tea lantern and cups are also well suited for other beverages, such as chilled lemonade, hot mulled wine or even scotch. Whatever you serve, it is the liquid inside which is emphasized, becoming a lens of liquid color, suspended within the glass, projecting a play of colored light onto the table surface.