Teabowl and saucer 1719 - 1720

This pewter teabowl and saucer were crafted by John Goode between 1701 and 1713, a time when tea drinking was becoming increasingly popular in England, but before porcelain became widely available. Imagine holding this teabowl in your hands; it's a tangible connection to the rituals of the past. What does it mean to participate in a custom that was just forming, that would be a connection to British identity and trade relations? Tea drinking at this time was tied to social status and economic power, with goods often acquired through colonial trade routes. The simple design of this teabowl contrasts sharply with the complex social dynamics it embodies. As you look at it, consider the stories it might tell about culture, class, and the shared moments of connection, or exploitation, it facilitated.