tea

shelf 2

Tea is served and consumed in many ways. Teapots may have small holes in the body by the spout to strain out loose tea leaves. In South America, straws with perforated filters are used for drinking mate, a caffeine-rich infusion similar to tea. A double-spouted teapot ensures that no one needs to wait when sharing tea for two.

 

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A pentagonal pewter tea caddy with floral decorations.

Chinese

Tea Caddy, 1800s

Pewter

Bequest of John F. Street 40.017.16

A silver utensil used for steeping tea with a long skinny handle and bulbous end with small holes.

South American, possibly Peruvian or Argentine

Drinking Straw with Filter (Bombilla), 1800s

Silver

Gift of the Estate of Elizabeth T. Casey 1989.045.12.502

A long silver utensil used for tea with a decorative body and has one small bulbous end.

South American, possibly Peruvian

Drinking Straw with Filter (Bombilla), 1800s

Silver

Gift of the Estate of Elizabeth T. Casey 1989.045.12.30

A silver covered jar and dipper that has long feet, a chain connecting the body and lid.

South American

Mate Cup with Bombilla, 1800s

Silver

Gift of Miss Ellen D. Sharpe 13.1504

A mottled brown teapot with an image of a pineapple in the center. Two spouts are on the left side, and a rounded handle with a flat top faces right.

English

Double-Spouted Teapot, ca. 1840

Earthenware with manganese-oxide glaze

Gift of Mrs. S. James Foster 56.007

Teapot with a swirling, marbled design on the body and lid in brown, blue, black, and cream. Spout, handle, and rounded finial are solid cream colored.

English

Mochaware Teapot, late 1700s–early 1800s

Earthenware with glaze

Gift of Miss Alice Brownell, Mrs. Ernst R. Behrend and Alfred S. Brownell 29.187