Teapot 1792

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silver, ceramic

silver

neoclassicism

ceramic

decorative-art

Dimensions: 6 1/8 x 3 9/16 x 5 3/4 in. (15.56 x 9.05 x 14.61 cm)

This silver teapot was crafted by Paul Revere, a man better known for his midnight ride than his artistry. Born in Boston in 1734 to a father who was a French Huguenot immigrant, Revere was a silversmith by trade and a patriot by conviction. Consider that this object was likely commissioned by a wealthy family, eager to display their status through refined tea parties. Yet, as Revere shaped this elegant form, he was simultaneously galvanizing support for rebellion against British rule. The teapot becomes a potent symbol of the tensions within colonial society – caught between allegiance to the crown and the burgeoning desire for self-governance. One can imagine the conversations that might have unfolded around such an object, whispers of revolution amidst the clinking of china. Revere's teapot is more than a vessel; it's a quiet witness to the forging of a nation.

Comments

minneapolisinstituteofart over 1 year ago

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The most complete Revere service known, this set of which this teapot is a part was made for a Boston merchant and his wife, John and Mehitable Templeman. It includes one of only two tea caddies made by Revere. The locked boxes held loose tea, an expensive and fashionable commodity. The shell-shaped spoon was used for measuring tea and the sieve was used for straining punch, a beverage often served along with tea. The second stand may have been used as a tray for spoons. The accompanying teaspoons have only recently been reunited with this service.