Teapot 1715 - 1725

This teapot was created by Jacob Marius Groen in the eighteenth century. It's made of silver and wood, and its relatively small size suggests it was intended for personal use, rather than communal gatherings. The production of silver objects like this was concentrated in the Netherlands during this period. Guilds played a crucial role in setting standards for craftsmanship and quality. Groen, as a silversmith, would have been part of this guild system, which shaped both his training and the market for his goods. The rise of tea consumption in Europe was closely tied to colonialism. Tea, along with sugar, was a commodity produced through exploitation and enslavement. Owning a delicate object like this teapot was not just about enjoying tea; it was a display of wealth derived from a global system of trade and extraction. Historians rely on guild records, trade documents, and personal inventories to understand the economic and social context of objects like this. By examining the material culture of the past, we can better understand the complex interplay of art, commerce, and social life.