Coffeepot
1705–6
Medium
Silver, wood
Dimensions
Height: 8 7/8 in. (22.5 cm)
Classification
Metalwork-Silver
Culture
British, London
Department
European Sculpture and Decorative Arts
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Gift of Irwin Untermyer, 1968
Accession Number
68.141.258
Art Historical Context
This elegant coffeepot, crafted by London silversmith Francis Garthorne around 1705–6, exemplifies the refined metalwork of early 18th-century Britain during the Queen Anne period. Standing at just 8 7/8 inches tall, it features a classic baluster shape with a wooden handle for practicality and heat resistance, combining silver's luster with functional design. Garthorne, a prominent maker registered at Goldsmiths' Hall, marked his pieces with distinctive hallmarks confirming their London origin and precise date. Silver coffeepots like this one mark the rise of coffee culture in England, where...