Tea Caddy
1762–63
Medium
Silver
Dimensions
Overall: 4 7/8 x 3 15/16 x 3 1/16 in. (12.4 x 10 x 7.8 cm); 8 oz. 17 dwt. (274.5 g) Body: H. 4 1/8 in. (10.5 cm); 7 oz. 1 dwt. (219.9 g) Cover: 1 oz. 15 dwt. (54.6 g)
Classification
Tea Caddy
Culture
British
Department
The American Wing
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Gift of William S. Verplanck, 1959
Accession Number
59.30a, b
Art Historical Context
In the opulent world of 18th-century Britain, tea drinking emerged as a cherished social ritual among the elite, transforming the simple beverage into a symbol of refinement and hospitality. This exquisite silver tea caddy, crafted by London silversmith Emick Romer between 1762 and 1763, exemplifies that era's luxury craftsmanship. Measuring a compact 4⅞ x 3¾ x 3 inches and weighing about 8½ ounces, it was designed to securely store precious tea leaves—imported at great expense from China—in a divided interior, often with a lock to deter servants. Romer's work reflects the Georgian period's ro...