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Tea Caddy

1725–40
On view at The Met Fifth Avenue in Gallery 750
Rare survivals in early American silver, this pair of octagonal tea caddies and matching sugar box emulate contemporary English design. They also evoke the passion for tea–drinking and its costly accessories that became as fashionable in the Colonies as they were abroad. Each vessel is engraved with the arms and crest of the Bayard family of New York. Although only one tea caddy entered the Metropolitan’s collection in 1964 (64.249.5a,b), the set was reunited in 2015 with the purchase of the matching caddy and sugar box (2015.93.1a,b-2a,b).

Artwork Details

Object Information
  • Title: Tea Caddy
  • Maker: Simeon Soumaine (baptized 1685–ca. 1750)
  • Date: 1725–40
  • Geography: Made in New York, New York, United States
  • Culture: American
  • Medium: Silver
  • Dimensions: Overall: 4 5/16 x 2 11/16 x 2 1/4 in. (11 x 6.8 x 5.7 cm); 5 oz. 15 dwt. (178 g)
    Body: 3 11/16 in. (9.4 cm); 5 oz. 1 dwt. (156.6 g)
    Cover: 1 3/8 x 1 1/4 in. (3.5 x 3.2 cm); 14 dwt. (21.4 g)
  • Credit Line: Gift of E. M. Newlin, 1964
  • Object Number: 64.249.5a, b
  • Curatorial Department: The American Wing

More Artwork

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Sugar Box, Simeon Soumaine American, Silver, American
Sugar Box
Simeon Soumaine
ca. 1720
Tea Caddy, Simeon Soumaine American, Silver
Tea Caddy
Simeon Soumaine
ca. 1720
Tankard, Simeon Soumaine American, Silver, American
Tankard
Simeon Soumaine
1715–25
Tankard, Simeon Soumaine American, Silver, American
Tankard
Simeon Soumaine
1720–40
Salver, Simeon Soumaine American, Silver, American
Salver
Simeon Soumaine
1735–45

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