Teapot 1796 - 1797

Curator: Right, so this is a teapot, crafted by John Troby. We don't have an exact date for it, but Troby lived from 1787 to 1805. Editor: It’s so stark, isn't it? Almost severe in its simplicity. The wood handle offers a warmer contrast to the cool silver. Curator: Silver and wood, a deliberate choice, I think. Consider the labour involved in each material, the mining and the silversmithing versus the carving of the wood handle. There's a whole social hierarchy embedded in that contrast, right? Editor: Absolutely! It also strikes me that the object seems a little… joyless, for a teapot. It’s elegant but perhaps too restrained. I wonder about the person who would have used it. Curator: Maybe they preferred their tea with a side of quiet dignity! Editor: Well, I guess every object tells its own story of labor and luxury.