Tea caddy (one of a pair) 1758

This is one of a pair of silver tea caddies, made by Christopher Jonsen, a colonial silversmith who died in 1775. Tea drinking in the American colonies was a highly politicized activity, and the rituals around tea were loaded with social meaning. Tea was first introduced to Europe in the 17th century, and by the 18th century, it had become a popular drink in the American colonies. The decorative detail on the surface of these caddies would have been costly, but the real expense was in the tea itself. For many, tea was a luxury good, subject to import duties, and therefore the target of colonial protest. Tea caddies became part of the visual culture through which colonists expressed their self-conscious participation in political life. Historians rely on a range of research resources to understand this period, including journals, letters, diaries, and account books. The political role of art and the politics of imagery helps us consider the social conditions that shape artistic production and consumption.