Theeservies before 1884

This photograph of a tea service was produced by Lemercier & Cie. The photograph's composition is determined by the arrangement of objects and use of light and shadow. But what is the social context that shapes the objects themselves? Tea sets like this were common in Europe, a mark of social status and refinement. Tea was a luxury product from China and India, brought to Europe through colonial trade networks. The act of drinking tea became an important social ritual, especially among the upper classes, where tea parties became opportunities to display wealth, taste, and sociability. In order to understand the social, cultural, and economic history of an artwork like this, one needs to investigate colonialism, trade, and the creation of social classes. This can be done through archival sources such as trade records, historical accounts of social customs, and analyses of the material culture of tea consumption.