Teapot

J.E. Terry and Co.

1820–21 · Silver, wood · European Sculpture and Decorative Arts

Prominently displayed within shaped shields are the arms of Sir George Wombwell, second baronet (1769–1846), on one side, and on the other his crest—a unicorn's head. The form of this teapot is that of a low compressed pear shape. The ornament, with its double curve handle and stand-away spout modeled in relief with the head of a serpent, is a flight of fancy far removed from the prevailing correct taste for Neoclassic serenity and massiveness. There are Chinese figures in landscapes in low relief on both sides and on the dome of the hinged cover a disarming figure of a Chinese boy, leaning backwards and looking out.

Artist

J.E. Terry and Co.

Date

1820–21

Medium

Silver, wood

Culture

British, London

Department

European Sculpture and Decorative Arts

Credit line

Gift of Fong Chow, in memory of his parents, Yk and Rose Chow of Hong Kong, 1998