Teapot (part of a traveling tea service) 1783 - 1793

This delicate teapot, part of a traveling tea service, was crafted by Dihl et Guérhard in the late 18th or early 19th century. Its creation coincided with a period of immense social change marked by revolution, both in France and in the Americas. Consider how the rituals of tea drinking, often associated with the elite, were implicated in these power dynamics. Who had access to these luxuries? What did it mean to transport such an object across distances, amidst political upheaval? The neoclassical design, with its clean lines and refined ornamentation, speaks to the tastes of the era and yet, feels intentionally devoid of excessive ornamentation. Perhaps this teapot, with its modest elegance, offers a quiet commentary on shifting social values. It invites us to contemplate the relationship between luxury, power, and identity. In our hands we have a glimpse into the lives and social values of those who sought both comfort and status in a changing world.