domed tea kettle with wide base; handle with blue plastic at top; domed cover with yellow knob; red plastic whistle at end of spout

%C2%A9 Michael Graves Design Group

Tea kettle, 1989

Stainless steel, aluminum, plasticexpand_more

Gift of Target Storesexpand_more  2001.15.3a-c

Not on Viewexpand_more

In 1998, during Michael Graves's partnership with Target Corporation on the acclaimed scaffolding for the Washington Monument restoration, the architect, who dubbs himself a "general practitioner," began having conversations with Target executives about affordable product design. Walking through a Target store, Graves marked hundreds of household items he felt he could improve. His first group to hit Target shelves in 1999 included this teakettle, a variation on his "whistling bird" kettle for Alessi from 1985. This less expensive version has a literal whistle on its spout; other variations for target include a spinning and a ferris wheel whistle. Graves's blend of attention-grabbing details and Postmodern classical references on everyday objects has been a popular one for the store chain.

Details
Title
Tea kettle
Artist Life
1934 - 2015
Role
Designer
Accession Number
2001.15.3a-c
Curator Approved

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domed tea kettle with wide base; handle with blue plastic at top; domed cover with yellow knob; red plastic whistle at end of spout

© Michael Graves Design Group