Unknown Maker, English

In multiple ways, this teapot reflects England’s rise as an international center of trade and commerce. As tea was imported from Asia to Europe, makers produced teapots. At the same time, the popularity of Asian porcelain wares spurred the use of white earthenware as a less-expensive alternative. This teapot’s form underscores England’s interest in and commercial connections to Eastern cultures. The pineapple was a costly import to Europe, and in social settings signified gracious hospitality and worldly knowledge.