Teapot

Unknown

1760/75

Teapot by Unknown

Medium

Lead-glazed earthenware (creamware)

Dimensions

9.9 × 17.2 × 8.8 cm (3 7/8 × 6 3/4 × 3 7/16 in.)

Classification

teapot

Department

Applied Arts of Europe

Museum

Art Institute of Chicago

Accession Number

72618

Art Historical Context

This elegant teapot, crafted around 1760–1775, exemplifies creamware—a refined lead-glazed earthenware that revolutionized European ceramics during the 18th century. Produced in England, creamware offered a creamy, translucent glaze over a durable earthenware body, mimicking the luxury of Chinese porcelain at a fraction of the cost. Its dimensions (9.9 17.2 × 8.8 cm) made it ideal for domestic use, blending functionality with subtle sophistication in the Applied Arts of Europe. The period marked the height of tea culture in Britain and its colonies, where teapots like this became symbols of r...

About the Artist

Unknown

The artist designated as "Unknown" in our virtual museum's collection exemplifies a poignant chapter in art history: creators whose identities have faded into obscurity despite the enduring power of their work. With only one known artwork attributed to them in our holdings, this figure represents countless anonymous hands that shaped visual culture across centuries. Museums worldwide, including th...

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