Teapot 1725 - 1726

Curator: Let’s consider this elegant "Teapot" by William Paradise, held here at the Harvard Art Museums. I’m immediately drawn to the materials. Look at the contrast between the gleaming silver and the creamy handle, possibly ivory. Editor: It does strike a delicate balance, doesn’t it? The silver, meticulously crafted, speaks to a certain economic privilege, while the ivory handle hints at colonial histories and their lasting impact. Curator: Exactly. The act of drinking tea was also deeply embedded in colonial practices. It becomes apparent that this teapot is not merely an object of function, but a potent symbol of power dynamics. Editor: And the labor that went into producing this form, both the silverwork and sourcing the ivory, needs acknowledgment. We’re talking about intense extraction and craftsmanship, potentially exploiting labor and natural resources. Curator: Absolutely. Considering the teapot, we see how it is interwoven with societal norms, gender roles, and the larger political landscapes of its time. Editor: Thinking about its making and use really forces us to reflect on systems of production and the legacy of their materials.