Teapot
1745–55
Medium
Silver
Dimensions
Overall: 5 5/8 x 8 3/4 x 4 5/16 in. (14.3 x 22.2 x 11 cm); 16 oz. 14 dwt. (519.6 g) Foot diameter: 3 7/16 in. (8.7 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
24.109.7
Tags
Art Historical Context
Step into the refined world of colonial America with this elegant silver teapot crafted by Josiah Austin around 1745–55. As a skilled Boston silversmith, Austin exemplifies the high craftsmanship of pre-Revolutionary artisans, producing luxury items for the elite. Measuring 5 5/8 x 8 3/4 x 4 5/16 inches and weighing a substantial 16 ounces 14 pennyweight, this teapot's graceful proportions reflect the Queen Anne style popular in the mid-18th century, with its pear-shaped body and elegant spout designed for the ritual of tea drinking—a social staple among affluent households. The teapot's silv...