Teaware Review: Globo, Tilt When Ready

The days of boring and staid teaware appear to be waning. Novel designs and new materials make it easy to have a bit of fun with your tea. A number of interesting designs have emerged in recent years that make the still esoteric task of brewing loose tea fun, and dare we say, cool.

The most recent addition to this new wave of teapots is the Globo by Jenaer Glas. Beautifully styled, yet very practical, the teapot relies on a tilting motion to brew up a pot of tea. The principle, it turns out, is not very new and is said to have originated in 1905 with the works of the Earl of Dundonald. Almost a hundred years later, this concept was reinterpreted in a modern glass version by the visionaries at Delphin Design, located in Berlin.

The design turned out to be award-winning. The Globo is the recipient of the 2002 iF design award, one of the most important in the international design competition. Bestowed by the International Forum Design based in Hannover, Germany, the award is recognition of Globo's combination of stunning esthetics and practical quality.

The concept, after all, is very simple. Yet inspired. To infuse tea, the pot is stood on its handle. In this position, the infuser is immersed in hot water. Once the infusion is complete, a simple tilting of the pot onto its front leg lifts the infuser out of the water. The infusion is halted, and tea is ready to be served. There is no need to remove the infused leaves until after the service is complete.

This seemingly simple idea is the brainchild of Thomas G. Wagner and Dirk Loff, the pair behind Delphin Design. Their work is shaped by stringency, clearly defined shapes and a striving to find the simplest conceivable solutions to any problem. Wagner and Loff's adherence to this approach is evident in the clean lines and simple functionality of the Globo teapot.