Coffeepot 1750 - 1760

This Whieldon-type coffeepot was probably made in England in the mid-18th century from earthenware with colored lead glazes. As coffee became a popular import from the colonies, fueled in part by the British East India Company, the rituals around drinking it grew. Coffee consumption became an important social activity in Europe, especially among the middle and upper classes and elaborate vessels such as this coffeepot were needed to brew and serve it. These wares reflect the growing consumerism of the time, especially in England, where industrial production began to expand. This coffeepot reflects not only the practical function of containing liquid but also the decorative function of being a fashionable object for display in the home. The history of this coffeepot can be further understood by consulting auction records, trade publications, and historical documents that describe 18th-century English social life.