Teapot
Brooklyn Museum photograph
Object Label
Tea, imported from Chinese estates, was an expensive luxury until the end of the eighteenth century, requiring equipment for its brewing, serving, and consumption. Silversmiths fashioned a variety of vessels for the beverage. The swelling inverted-pear form, engraved decoration, and glistening silver of this teapot would have emphasized the cost of the materials and the wealth of the owner rather than the labor used to produce and serve the drink.
Caption
William Simpkins American, 1704–1780. Teapot, 18th century. Silver with wooden handle, 6 1/8 x 9 9/16 x 4 15/16 in. (15.6 x 24.3 x 12.5 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Gift of Wunsch Americana Foundation, Inc., 1997.188.2. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 1997.188.2_PS6.jpg)
Gallery
Not on view
Collection
Gallery
Not on view
Collection
Maker
Title
Teapot
Date
18th century
Geography
Place manufactured: Boston, Massachusetts, United States
Medium
Silver with wooden handle
Classification
Dimensions
6 1/8 x 9 9/16 x 4 15/16 in. (15.6 x 24.3 x 12.5 cm)
Signatures
no signature
Inscriptions
no inscriptions
Markings
Engraved on bottom: E B with Y-like figure between.
Credit Line
Gift of Wunsch Americana Foundation, Inc.
Accession Number
1997.188.2
Rights
Creative Commons-BY
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