Teapot
ca. 1842–51
Medium
Britannia metal; bone
Dimensions
Overall: 5 × 9 7/8 × 5 1/2 in. (12.7 × 25.1 × 14 cm)
Classification
Metalwork-Base Metal
Culture
British, Sheffield
Department
European Sculpture and Decorative Arts
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Bequest of Delight L. Sherwin, 1990
Accession Number
1990.92.2
Art Historical Context
This elegant teapot, crafted by renowned Sheffield firm James Dixon & Sons around1842–51, exemplifies the pinnacle of British base metal craftsmanship during the Victorian era. Made from Britannia metal—a durable, silvery alloy resembling pewter—with bone accents for the handle and finial, it measures a compact 5 × 9 7/8 × 5 1/2 inches. Sheffield, the heart of Britain's metalworking industry, was famed for producing affordable yet refined tablewares through innovative casting and spinning techniques, making luxury accessible to the growing middle class. The teapot's neoclassical-inspired desi...