Teapot
ca. 1740
Medium
Silver
Dimensions
Overall: 5 1/4 x 7 5/8 x 4 1/4 in. (13.3 x 19.4 x 10.8 cm); 14 oz. 2 dwt. (438.2 g) Foot: Diam. 3 5/8 in. (9.2 cm)
Classification
Teapot
Culture
American
Department
The American Wing
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Bequest of Charles Allen Munn, 1924
Accession Number
24.109.9
Art Historical Context
Crafted around 1740 by Philadelphia silversmith Joseph Richardson Sr., this elegant silver teapot exemplifies the finest colonial American craftsmanship during the early 18th century. at 5 1/4 inches tall with a graceful pear-shaped body, hinged lid, and sturdy foot measuring 3 5/8 inches in diameter it weighs a substantial 14 ounces. Richardson, one of the era's premier silversmiths, his works with distinctive touchmarks, ensuring authenticity and quality that rivaled European imports. In the American colonies, silver teapots like this were coveted status symbols for the emerging merchant el...