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

Research Resources

The Met provides unparalleled resources for research and welcomes an international community of students and scholars. The Met's Open Access API is where creators and researchers can connect to the The Met collection. Open Access data and public domain images are available for unrestricted commercial and noncommercial use without permission or fee.

To request images under copyright and other restrictions, please use this Image Request form.

Feedback

We continue to research and examine historical and cultural context for objects in The Met collection. If you have comments or questions about this object record, please complete and submit this form. The Museum looks forward to receiving your comments.