Teapot

Jacob Boelen

An item at Metropolitan Museum of Art

The globular body, straight spout, and detachable cover of this teapot imitate Chinese ceramics, while the luxurious armorial engraving, die-stamped foot band, and meander wire are characteristic of early New York silver. The striking contrast of plain surfaces with linear and sculptural ornament characterizes the finest work of this period. Engraved feather mantling surrounds the arms of the Philipse family, wealthy merchants of colonial New York. The teapot later passed into the Jay family.

The American Wing

An exhibit at Metropolitan Museum of Art

The American Wing's ever-evolving collection comprises some 20,000 works of art by African American, Euro American, Latin American, and Native American men and women. Ranging from the colonial to early-modern periods, the holdings include painting, sculpture, works on paper, and decorative arts—including furniture, textiles, ceramics, glass, silver, metalwork, jewelry, basketry, quill and bead embroidery—as well as historical interiors and architectural fragments.

Metropolitan Museum of Art