Teapot 1820 - 1821

This teapot was made of silver by J.E. Terry and Co., but its precise origins remain somewhat mysterious. Its imagery points us to the lucrative and ethically fraught tea trade. The firm J.E. Terry & Co. operated in Montreal in the early to mid-19th century. Their work gives us a glimpse into the social and economic dynamics of the period. The scenes on the pot are particularly intriguing because they reference Chinese architecture. Tea was a highly desired commodity in both Europe and North America, and silver teapots were luxury items for the wealthy. What statements did the owner want to make through this tea set, we might ask? Was it about good taste, global awareness, or wealth? To understand the complex relationship between trade, colonialism, and material culture of this period, scholars often turn to historical archives, trade records, and studies of decorative arts.