Tea cozy
Unknown Artist
19th century
Medium
Silk and glass beads
Dimensions
H. 12 x W. 17 x Th. 5 inches (30.5 x 43.2 x 12.7 cm)
Classification
Textiles-Embroidered
Culture
British or Scottish
Department
European Sculpture and Decorative Arts
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Gift of Eric N. Shrubsole, 1969
Accession Number
69.214
Art Historical Context
Nestled in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's European Sculpture and Decorative collection, this exquisite 19th-century tea exemplifies the artistry of British or Scottish domestic textiles. Measuring 12 inches high, 17 inches wide, and 5 inches thick, it was crafted from silk adorned with shimmering glass beads, gifted by Eric N. Shrubsole in 1969. Tea cozies like this one were essential during the Victorian era, when afternoon tea became a cherished social ritual popularized by the Duchess of Bedford around 1840. Designed to insulate teapots and keep brew warm, these cozies transformed a pract...