George II Coffee Pot
Artist
Thomas Whipham
(British, active from 1737, died 1785)
Date1747
CultureEnglish
MediumSilver with light wooden handle
ClassificationMetalwork
Credit LineGift of Percy R. Everett, 1969
Object numberSN7373
The Neoclassical movement of the mid-18th century influenced decorative arts as well as painting, sculpture, and architecture. This restrained, classical style rejected the heavy ornamentation of the Rococo for simpler, more discrete forms and palettes. Following suit, silver makers preserved the clean lines of an object's profile, introducing flat, mirror-like surfaces often void of heavy ornamentation or incisions. The two George III tureens provide excellent examples of this unadorned style, which relied on the reflection of light off the surface for decoration rather than elaborate embossing or repoussé - two methods of created raised designs on silver. At the same time, a muted version of the Rococo remained popular and coexisted with the Neoclassical style. The two half-pint tankards provide examples of each.
On View
On viewLocation
Dimensions10 x 8 1/4 x 4 1/4 in. (25.4 x 21 x 10.8 cm)- Museum of Art, Gallery 16, Case Center
circa 1960
