Young designer produces mature masterpiece

Landscape Teapot designer Ran Xiangfei won best tableware design at the Elle Decoration International Design Awards (EDIDA) 2012 China. Provided to China Daily

Ran Xiangfei could easily be mistaken as an undergraduate student strolling into the Shanghai Italian Center exhibition hall.

But he is there as the winner of the best tableware design at the Elle Decoration International Design Awards (EDIDA) 2012 China.

His work, Landscape Teapot, will join other award winners to compete in the global EDIDA at the Milan Design Week in April 2013.

"Landscape Teapot reflects Chinese people's special sentiment toward the moon," Ran explains.

Wearing an oversized black sweater, the 25-year-old postgraduate student from Jiang Nan University in Wuxi, Jiangsu province, is the youngest of this year's winners.

One of the most recognized awards in the world design scene, EDIDA will be featured in 25 editions of Elle Deco all over the world.

China joined the event in 2004 to promote local designers' masterpieces in various aspects of modern living, including furniture, seating, tableware and wall covering.

"We are impressed by the designers' deep understanding and adept use of the cultural and traditional elements of China, as well as their ability to create works that are functional and beautiful for modern lifestyle," says Chu Manlu, chief editor for the Chinese edition of Elle Decoration.

Full of praise for Ran's design, Chu says: "He submitted a teapot design for the EDIDA China 2011, but didn't win. This year, we were surprised with his improvised and mature work. He has perfected the design."

The pot features a horizontal profile, with the lid in the shape of a mountain, and the handle like a half-moon rising from the ocean. The mouth of the pot is shaped in such a special angle that when you tilt the pot to pour water, it looks like water falling down a cliff.

"The moonrise gives a sense of homesickness. Like poetry that can't be perfectly translated into another language, this visual and emotional connection exists only among us Chinese," Ran explains.

"A cup of Chinese tea will evoke the feeling of home sweet home, wherever you are.