American Silver Teapot

Object Details

Object Essay

Throughout the Federal period, New Yorkers continued to prefer the cylindrical-drum teapot form of the 1780s rather than the more elegant, tall urn forms popular in Philadelphia and Baltimore. On this late example, a narrow, flaring foot-ring adds a nice sense of balance. By 1800, the oval drum shape had developed into a more bulbous, boat shape, heralding the massive designs of the Empire style. New York tea and coffeepots made between about 1800 and 1840 are characterized by large finials on the cover, or central peak, of the piece. In this case, the low, reel-shaped cover rises to a dome topped by a large boat-shaped urn. Attention is drawn to the upper third of the body of this pot by a series of horizontally convex and concave segments. The lower body is subtly defined with shallow flutes flanking the spout and handle.                  

Much neoclassical New York silver, including many other examples by Forbes, is ornamented with a profusion of bright-cut engraving. On this example, only crossed palm or olive branches form the restrained reserve that encloses the small script initials on the side.

A number of related Forbeses worked as silversmiths in New York, including William Garret Forbes’s brother, Abraham Geritse Forbes (working 1769–1805) and William’s two sons, Garret (1785–1851) and John Wolfe (1781–1864).^{1_{Belden 1980, 171–74.}}        

Jennifer F. Goldsborough

Excerpted from Clement E. Conger, et al. Treasures of State: Fine and Decorative Arts in the Diplomatic Reception Rooms of the U.S. Department of State. New York: H.N. Abrams, 1991.