Teakettle 1800 - 1830

This silver Teakettle was crafted by J. Dunn, and it now resides at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. While seemingly a humble domestic object, the Teakettle quietly speaks volumes about gender roles, class, and colonial histories. During the time this kettle was made, tea was more than a beverage; it was a ritual deeply embedded in the social fabric, particularly for women. Think about the famous painting by Chardin of a woman taking tea, or the more rowdy images of women in the tea garden by Mary Cassatt. Tea time represented a space for conversation, connection, and the performance of domesticity. The labor to produce the tea itself in the colonies was largely ignored by the wealthy classes who could afford such an object. Consider how the gleam of the silver also reflects the aspirations and the realities of the society that both produced and consumed it. The Teakettle is a reminder of the stories simmering beneath the surface of everyday life.