“Penny Woodens” Tea Set 1913 - 1917

Editor: This is the “Penny Woodens” Tea Set by S. Fielding and Company, made sometime between 1913 and 1917. It's ceramic, and it's giving off a very playful vibe. What stands out to you most when you look at this? Curator: Immediately, the emphasis on materiality jumps out. This ceramic set embodies the Arts and Crafts movement’s reaction against industrial production. Note the labor-intensive hand-painted figuration. The very act of crafting a tea set – traditionally associated with domesticity and refinement – becomes a statement about challenging the divide between art and craft, between the factory and the artisan. Do you notice anything interesting in how the figures are presented? Editor: Yes! They look almost cartoonish in their simplicity. Is there a reason for depicting figures in this way? Curator: Perhaps. This simple depiction brings a democratizing influence to what would typically be thought of as an upper middle class object. Who were these “Penny Woodens,” though, and what kind of consumption did they promote? We should look at these themes more closely. Editor: So it’s less about perfect craftsmanship and more about the societal context and the statement it’s trying to make through its medium? Curator: Precisely! The value isn't just in the technique, but in the commentary on labor, the social implications of tea-drinking, and even the implied critique of mass-produced alternatives. Think about where this would have been displayed, and who would have been consuming from it. Editor: This really shifts how I see it – not just as a decorative object, but a response to industrial culture through materiality and labor. I never considered how even a tea set could carry such social weight. Curator: Absolutely. By focusing on the materials and method of production, we can decode many embedded societal attitudes.