I made this mini kettle to use for larger tea sessions with 12-16 people where using a side handle can be tough on my wrist. It can also be used as a smaller kettle for gungfu sessions. It can be used for infusions or boiling. 

The handle is made from natural spalted sycamore. The spalting is a record of the tree's life meeting adversity, written into the grain long before the wood reached my studio. I couldn't have drawn those lines. I could only find the piece, decide it was worth keeping, and work it down until the vessel and the handle belonged to each other.

With any ceramic kettle, it is critical to avoid sudden temperature changes. Water inside helps buffer changes-- never heat an empty kettle or place an empty hot kettle on cold surfaces. Orient the handle away from flames to prevent burning. Moisturize occasionally with butcher block conditioner - rub it in, let sit, then wipe excess.

If your kettle is glazed, fine lines may appear over time. this is called crazing and it's completely normal. These lines create unique character and don't affect functionality - they're simply evidence of a well-loved piece.