Asian Tea Pots

Art Historical Context

Henry Farrer's *Asian Tea Pots* (n.d.) is a delicate watercolor on paper, mounted to paperboard for preservation, measuring 25.72 × 23.5 cm on a larger 38.1 × 81.28 cm mount. intimate still life captures a collection of East Asian teapots, rendered with the artist's signature precision and luminosity. Farrer, a 19th-century British-American associated with the Pre-Raphaelite and Aesthetic movements, excelled in watercolor, using translucent layers to evoke texture and light on ceramics—hallmarks of his meticulous technique. Created during the height of Japonisme in the West, when European artists eagerly collected and depicted Asian objects, this work reflects broader cultural fascination with Eastern aesthetics. The teapots, likely porcelain or metalware inspired by Chinese or Japanese designs, symbolize refined domestic rituals and the era's global exchange of ideas. Farrer's composition highlights subtle reflections and shadows, inviting viewers to appreciate the pots' elegant forms up close. Now in the National Gallery of Art's collection (Department CG-W) through the generous gift of William and Abigail Gerdts, this drawing exemplifies watercolor's versatility for still-life studies. It offers museum visitors a window into Victorian-era artistry and cross-cultural appreciation, perfect for savoring with a cup of tea in hand.

About the Artist

Henry Farrer · 1844–1903

Henry Farrer (1843–1903) was a British-born American etcher and watercolorist who played a significant role in the development of the etching revival in the United States during the latter half of the nineteenth century. Born in London, Farrer emigrated to the United States, where he became a founding member of the New York Etching Club in 1877, an organization that brought together American print...