Tea caddy 1745 - 1746

This silver tea caddy was crafted by Paul de Lamerie, a Huguenot silversmith in 18th-century London. Tea was much more than a beverage; it was a ritual that spoke volumes about one's social standing. This caddy, with its ornate design and precious material, signals wealth and status. But let’s not overlook the source of this luxury. Sugar and tea drove the slave trade. These were products of immense suffering, cleverly disguised by elegant objects like this one. The coat-of-arms suggests a family’s aspirations to nobility, while the tea inside represents a global network of trade and exploitation. As you observe the craftsmanship, think about the hands, seen and unseen, that contributed to its creation and journey. What stories of power, privilege, and exploitation are embedded in this small, yet potent object?