Teapot
Decorative Arts and Design
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.
MEDIUM
Silver with wooden handle
DATES
18th century
DIMENSIONS
6 1/8 x 9 9/16 x 4 15/16 in. (15.6 x 24.3 x 12.5 cm) (show scale)
MARKINGS
Engraved on bottom: E B with Y-like figure between.
SIGNATURE
no signature
INSCRIPTIONS
no inscriptions
COLLECTIONS
Decorative Arts and Design
ACCESSION NUMBER
1997.188.2
CREDIT LINE
Gift of Wunsch Americana Foundation, Inc.
CATALOGUE DESCRIPTION
Silver teapot with inverted, pear-shaped body on stepped, molded, applied foot ring. Short, cast, s-shaped spout with fluted panels at lower section and blank acanthus pad at the top of spout. C-shaped wooden handle with c-curved thumb rest; cylindrical lower socket, scrolled upper socket. Slightly domed, hinged lid with cast, inverted pineapple finial. Shoulder of pot is chased with ruffles, c-scrolls, and floral motifs. Chased, eight-pointed medallion centers finial.
CONDITION: Normal wear, otherwise fine.
MUSEUM LOCATION
This item is not on view
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)
IMAGE
overall, 1997.188.2_PS6.jpg. Brooklyn Museum photograph, 2012
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RIGHTS STATEMENT
Creative Commons-BY
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