Description
Sowden Penrose SoftBrew
Sowden Penrose SoftBrew™ teapot improves this beautifully simple functionality by introducing a discrete piece of advanced micro-engineering in the heart of the pot: a supersized etched stainless steel filter whose generous dimensions allow tea leaves the same freedom as that of filter-less pots as well as being easily removable and cleanable, eliminating the waste of tea bags and greatly simplifying the ritual of preparing perfect loose leaf tea.
Cross section of Penrose Tea Pot
The pots themselves are made in Chaozhou, the Imperial ceramic capital of China, using the highest grade local stoneware and porcelain and all our pots pass all the highest consumer safety tests.
The design intelligence of these simple forms, fruit of Sowden’s 40 years of pioneering work in the design field, combined with excellent craftsmanship and materials result in a teapot which gently commands the respect of the room.
The purpose of the SoftBrew™ filter is to give your choice of tea room to breath whilst gently extracting all the flavors. Thousands of microscopic holes and the generous capacity allow the water to flow and take up the taste without trapping or squashing the delicate leaves. The method is as simple as any tradition teapot; place the filter in the porcelain pot, put the loose leaves of tea into the filter and pour over hot water at the temperature of your choice that’s it! If you want to avoid the bitter taste of over brewing just take out the filter when you brew is as you like it.
Sowden Softbrew Tea Strainer
George Sowden
Sophisticated and daring simplicity is the rare type of design intelligence found in the work of George Sowden. Born and raised in Leeds in the immediate post-war years, Sowden went on to study architecture at Gloucestershire College of Art in Cheltenham in the 1960s. Determined to be a designer, and on the invitation of early mentor Ettore Sottsass, Sowden set off for Milan, Mecca of contemporary design, in the early 1970s.
His first important work was done at the renowned Olivetti where he participated in the design of early computer products, implementing many ergonomic innovations which are still today considered industry standards. This experience taught him the complexities involved in handling industrial processes and how exactly design fitted into it all. Milan has continued to be his and inspiration ever since.
In the 1980s he came to the attention of the wider world of design as a co-founder of the legendary Memphis group. Following those heady years of intense and radical experimentation Sowden continued his work with some of the world’s leading homeware and design companies including Alessi, Bodum, Pyrex, Tefal, Moulinex and Guzzini as well as winning the Compasso d’Oro in 2001.
Many of the ‘tools’ he has designed over the last two decades, such as his series of chairs for Segis, have quietly become firm icons of new design. 2011 saw the 30th anniversary of Sowden Design, the studio he set up in 1981 as well as the inauguration of Sowden, the first line to directly carry the designer’s name and the most comprehensive expression yet of his personal vision of design.
