Teapot c. 1730 - 1740

This teapot was created by Adrian Bancker, a New York silversmith, sometime before his death in 1772. The curves of the teapot reflect a burgeoning fascination with global trade and consumer culture. Tea, once a rare and precious commodity, had by the 18th century become a staple in both Europe and the American colonies. Drinking tea became associated with the rituals of gentility and polite society. The teapot also sits at the intersection of gender and class. In the domestic sphere, the preparation and serving of tea was primarily the domain of women, so the teapot stands as a symbol of women’s roles in maintaining social decorum and civility. But the enjoyment of tea was also enabled through the forced labor of enslaved people on sugar plantations. Consider the weight of the teapot in your hands, as you reflect on these complex histories.