Theepot 1748 - 1749

François van Stapele crafted this elegant teapot out of silver, wood and ebony. Picture this object in the hands of an elite, white, European family. By the time this teapot was crafted, tea was no longer just a drink, but a ritual, a way to perform social status. Tea drinking became a social theater, reinforcing hierarchies of class, gender, and race. This performance was enabled by colonialism and the exploitation of labor, as sugar and tea were harvested by enslaved people in the colonies. The dark ebony handle is a poignant reminder of the materials extracted through colonial violence, transformed into an element of beauty and status. The silver reflects wealth, but also the silent stories of those who were exploited in its making. Next time you pour a cup, consider how everyday objects can hold complex histories of power, privilege, and the human cost of luxury.