Adaptation from the Expulsion from Paradise scene, Bronze Doors of Bishop Bernwald for St. Michael's Cathedral, Hildesheim, 1015
The carved images of Adam and Eve on these two pieces (porcelain glazed to look like cast iron) are taken from a medieval German cathedral door. There, a wiry figure of God jabs a pointy finger at the frightened pair and lays on the curse of mortality. The humans crouch in shame and quickly pass the blame.
While carving the relief of Adam into the clay kettle I suddenly realized I had intended to put Eve on the kettle. Adam obviously belonged on the teapot with its wicked little spout. So, I got to play God, and quickly created a female out of the male. Luckily the clay was still supple. I regretted not having a place to put the God figure, as He is the most forceful character of the three at Hildesheim. But I did at the last minute include the serpent, winding around Eve's feet. So, three of the four main characters are represented; the primary one of them is unseen. The issue of blame, of human nature, is in here, in the cliche that inspired the piece, and in the gestures of the little people from Hildesheim.
