Cup and saucer c. 1875

James Tuff crafted this silver cup and saucer, part of a larger tea set, date unknown. The presence of such a delicate object in a museum raises questions about the public role of art. Looking at the set, we can deduce that it imitates tea sets produced for adults, but scaled down for children's use. In this sense, the tea set becomes a teaching tool, instructing children, specifically girls, in the rituals of domesticity and social grace expected of them in a particular time and place. The cultural references are clear; tea was, and remains, an important social ritual, particularly in middle and upper-class society. The act of playing with this tea set then becomes a means of internalizing and perpetuating these social norms. Understanding its full meaning requires further research into the history of childhood, gender roles, and domestic life during the period in which it was made. The meaning of art is contingent on its social and institutional context.