The Woman King Teapot

This hand-painted borosilicate teapot is a tribute to the strength, resilience, and wisdom of women. Its bold black line illustrations depict a community of women standing together—each face uniquely detailed, yet united through shared expression and purpose. The repeated motifs echo the struggles, victories, and unspoken bonds that tie women across generations.

Woven into the design are cowrie-inspired patterns, drawn with intention. Cowries once travelled through history as currency, adornment, and coded communication among women during the transatlantic slave trade. Braided into hair, they carried hidden messages, identity, and resistance. The cowrie symbols on this teapot honour that legacy—reminding us that women have always found ways to speak, survive, lead, and protect one another even when their voices were restricted.

The overall style balances tradition and modernity: bold African-inspired geometry meets delicate line portraiture. The piece is both functional art and storytelling—turning a simple teapot into an object that holds memory, culture, and power.

It is titled “The Woman King”—a celebration of the everyday woman who carries kingdoms on her shoulders and still finds the strength to rise.