Teapot c. 1875

This miniature tea set was made by James Tuff from silver. Look closely, and you’ll see it includes a teapot, sugar and creamer, and six cups and saucers, all carefully hammered and joined. Silver is a wonderful material. It is relatively soft and easy to manipulate, but also precious enough to suggest luxury. Consider the labor involved in producing this set. Each piece would have been shaped from a flat sheet of silver, likely using hammers and specialized forming tools. Details, such as the handles and feet, would have been made separately and then soldered in place. The silver also has a softly patinated surface, which speaks to a time before stainless steel when household objects had to be repeatedly polished. Miniature objects like these have long been used for play or display. They remind us that every object, whether grand or humble, carries a record of human ingenuity and craft. Appreciating the skill involved challenges the traditional distinctions between fine art and craft.