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A little bird whistles every time the Alessi 9093 kettle boils. This stovetop kettle was created in 1985 by American designer Michael Graves – who, at this point, had never worked in industrial design – as a way to inject some fun into the everyday household object. The public loved this whimsical item, driving the kettle to become Alessi’s best-selling item, for the past 30 years.
Its features:
- a blue handle, to signal a cool and safe area to touch; the red bird indicates hot temperatures
- a conical stainless steel body, which contributes to the lighthearted appeal of the appliance
- a magnetic steel bottom is suitable for induction hobs
- a bird-shaped plastic whistle that fits the tip of the spout, which is Michael's way of experiencing nature at breakfast. After the whistling bird, Alessi released a dragon-shaped whistle called Tea Rex.
Did you know? A French poet sent Michael a postcard saying: “I’m always very grumpy when I get up in the morning. But when I get up now, I put the tea kettle on, and when it starts to sing, it makes me smile – damn you!”