George III Teapot with Ebony (?) Handle and Lid Handle
David Hennell (II), English, 1767 - 1829
Robert Hennell, English, 1741 - 1811
1795
Silver
Overall: 7 1/4 × 12 × 3 3/4 in. (18.4 × 30.5 × 9.5 cm)
Hood Museum of Art, Dartmouth: Gift of Jane H. and Bradley Dewey, Jr., Class of 1965P
M.977.187
Geography
Place Made: England, United Kingdom, Europe
Period
1600-1800
Object Name
Tools and Equipment: Food Service
Research Area
Decorative Arts
Not on view
Inscriptions
Marks on bottom (clockwise from top): lion, profile head of man, crowned lion's head, U. In center of these marks: RH/ DH
Label
David and Robert Hennell’s George III teapot features embossed silver decorations and patterned engravings along the brim, while the intricately carved ebony handle showcases the silversmith’s ability to incorporate different materials. During the Georgian period, increased interest in tea consumption led to such luxury accessories, particularly in silver, for upper-class households.
On the right, the Bateman brothers produce a similar silver teapot adorned with patterned embossing and an ebony handle. In the 19th century, Hester Bateman, their mother, pioneered the production of well-crafted, affordable silverware, taking inspiration from teapots such as the Hennells’ example. Her innovations made silver more accessible to average consumers. Despite the cheaper production, however, the Batemans sustained the elegance of intricate engravings on the vessel.
From the 2024 exhibition A Space for Dialogue 118, Coffee and Tea in Art: A Brew of Cultural Symbolism, Solace, and Introspection, curated by Jeffrey Liu '24, Class of 1954 Intern
Exhibition History
A Space for Dialogue 118, Coffee and Tea in Art: A Brew of Cultural Symbolism, Solace, and Introspection, Jeffrey Liu '24, Class of 1954 Intern, Alvin P. Gutman Gallery, Hood Museum of Art, Dartmouth College, Hanover, New Hampshire, May 11 - July 7, 2024
Eighteenth Century English Silver, Harrington Silver Display Case, Hopkins Center Art Galleries, Dartmouth College, Hanover, New Hampshire, March 20-August 25, 1980.
Provenance
Jane H. and Bradley Dewey, Jr., Hanover, New Hampshire; given to present collection, 1981.
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