Creamer
1760–80
Medium
Silver
Dimensions
6 3/8 x 4 15/16 in. (16.2 x 12.5 cm); 8 oz. 16 dwt. (273.8 g)
Classification
Cream pot
Culture
Dutch
Department
The American Wing
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Bequest of Alphonso T. Clearwater, 1933
Accession Number
33.120.312
Art Historical Context
This elegant silver creamer, crafted by Dutch silversmith Philippus Priee around 1760–80, exemplifies the refined craftsmanship of colonial America's decorative arts. Measuring just 6 3/8 x 4 15/16 inches and weighing about 8 ounces, it was designed for serving cream in tea or coffee services—essential rituals among the prosperous merchant class. Priee's work reflects Dutch influences in New York silversmithing, where European traditions blended with emerging American tastes during the pre-Revolutionary era. Silver objects like this creamer were status symbols, showcasing the owner's wealth a...