Theepot van aardewerk, E.J. Birch Black Basalt. Met deksel. c. 1790 - 1810

This is a black basalt teapot with lid, made by Edmund John Birch. Without a firm date, it is difficult to place this object in history, but we can consider the context of the Black Basalt teapots, which became popular in the late 18th century. These teapots were often decorated with Neoclassical motifs, inspired by ancient Greek and Roman art. Tea, an imported commodity, became intertwined with social rituals and class distinctions. This piece reflects a time of shifting social practices and evolving identities, when the act of sharing tea became a means of performing sophistication. Consider the emotional weight of holding this object, the conversations it might have facilitated, and the complex web of global exchange it represents. The basalt teapot encapsulates the social and economic exchanges of its time, as well as the personal experiences of those who used it.