Alessi Michael Graves Tea Kettle

Designed by michael graves by applying his own visual language that fuses influences from art deco to pop art to contemporary cartoon it has become one of the icons of contemporary design.

Alessi michael graves tea kettle. He created the best selling 9093 kettle for alessi. Michael graves redesigned the whistle of that first famous kettle transforming its shape. But in the late 70s alessi invited graves and 11 other architects who had never designed any home products before to design a tea and coffee set. Graves design was the most popular and he became inspired to design the 9093 kettle along with a range of other kitchen appliances.

In 1980 michael graves was one of several internationally known architects to receive an invitation to participate in the alessi sponsored coffee and tea piazza design promotion. Made of stainless steel 18 10 tea rex kettle was created in 2015 to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the famous 9093. Alessi then commissioned graves to design the now famous whistling bird teakettle that in turn led to a decades long design collaboration that produced more than 150 products. The tea rex kettle was created in 2015 to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the famous 9093.

Michael graves july 9 1934 march 12. Michael graves was originally an architect not a designer. After the 25 000 tea service began to attract buyers alberto alessi commissioned graves to design a moderate priced kettle for his company. The little bird has become at the same time a fascinating mythological and futuristic creature a kind of imaginary dragon.

Michael graves whistling bird teakettle launched in 1985 and has been alessi s number one seller for the past 30 years with over 2 million units sold. Michael graves redesigned the whistle of that first famous kettle transforming its shape. Born in indianapolis he teaches architecture in princeton since 1962. The choice of the dragon is graves s reference to chinese culture which has chosen these.

In 1980 alberto alessi wanted to show off his company s manufacturing might. Graves designed a sterling silver tea service for alessi in 1982 a turning point in his career and he was no longer known solely as an architect. Managed by triboo digitale triboo digitale s r l. He hired 11 architects to design a sterling silver coffee tea piazza which he would exhibit.

Of all the sets designed and manufactured michael graves design sold best. A socio unico legal offices in milan viale sarca 336 edificio 16 italy rea mi 1901658 vat code and registry of businesses of milano monza brianza e lodi number 02912880966 shared capital euro 3 000 000 00 entirely paid company subject to management and coordination activity of the parent company triboo spa legal offices in milan. The stainless steel 18 10 9093 kettle is characterised by a bird shaped whistle. Michael graves died in 2015.