Teapot
Peter Bateman, English
William Bateman, English
1809
Sterling silver
Overall: 6 11/16 × 11 5/8 × 4 5/16 in. (17 × 29.5 × 11 cm)
Hood Museum of Art, Dartmouth: Purchased through the Harrington Silver Fund, including gifts from the Estate of John H. Mudie, Class of 1949, in memory of Ernest Martin Hopkins, Class of 1901
2021.46.1
Geography
Place Made: England, Europe
Period
19th century
Object Name
Tools and Equipment: Food Service
Research Area
Decorative Arts
Not on view
Label
David and Robert Hennell’s George III teapot features embossed silver decorations and patterned engravings along the brim, while the intricately carved ebony handle showcases the silversmith’s ability to incorporate different materials. During the Georgian period, increased interest in tea consumption led to such luxury accessories, particularly in silver, for upper-class households.
On the right, the Bateman brothers produce a similar silver teapot adorned with patterned embossing and an ebony handle. In the 19th century, Hester Bateman, their mother, pioneered the production of well-crafted, affordable silverware, taking inspiration from teapots such as the Hennells’ example. Her innovations made silver more accessible to average consumers. Despite the cheaper production, however, the Batemans sustained the elegance of intricate engravings on the vessel.
From the 2024 exhibition A Space for Dialogue 118, Coffee and Tea in Art: A Brew of Cultural Symbolism, Solace, and Introspection, curated by Jeffrey Liu '24, Class of 1954 Intern
Course History
HIST 5.14, Americas: Invasion to Independence, Paul Musselwhite and Ernesto Mercadeo-Montero, Fall 2022
HIST 90.15/ASCL 54.12, Early Modern India, 1500-1800, Tiraana Bains, Fall 2022
History 90.14, The Global British Empire, Tiraana Bains, Winter 2023
History 90.14, The Global British Empire, Tiraana Bains, Winter 2023
History 5.14, Americas: From Invasion to Independence, Ernesto Mercado-Montero and Paul Musselwhite, Fall 2023
Exhibition History
A Space for Dialogue 118, Coffee and Tea in Art: A Brew of Cultural Symbolism, Solace, and Introspection, Jeffrey Liu '24, Class of 1954 Intern, Alvin P. Gutman Gallery, Hood Museum of Art, Dartmouth College, Hanover, New Hampshire, May 11 - July 7, 2024
Provenance
Bryan Douglas Antique Silver, London; sold to present collection, 2021.
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