A teapot by prolific colonial silversmith Myer Myers of New York City will be on view at the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts (VMFA) beginning November 19. It will be the centerpiece in a case installation of three pieces made by Myers (circa 1723‹5) and two others made by prominent American silversmiths for the Myers family.
The teapot, made in about 1765, is from VMFA’s Jerome and Rita Gans collection of English silver, one of the finest such collections in the world. It was given to the museum in 2006 by Mrs Gans and has not been displayed here before.
The Myers teapot is the single example of American silver in the Gans collection. It stands 65/8 inches tall and is chased with swags of flowers and scrolls. Alcorn said it is one of the best examples known of Myers’ rococo style.
Four additional pieces complete the installation. A coffeepot made by Myers, circa 1765‷0, stands 12¼ inches high; a ladle, made in about 1784 by Myers as a gift upon the marriage of his daughter, Judith Myers, to Jacob Mordecai, is 147/8 inches long; a set of sugar tongs, 6¼ inches long, was made by Joseph Richardson Jr of Philadelphia in about 1784 on the occasion of Myers’ daughter Judith’s wedding; and a Paul Revere teapot and stand presented as a gift on the marriage of Myers’ son Samuel to Judith Hays was made in Boston in 1796 and stands 6¼ inches tall.
The Virginia Museum of Fine Arts is on the Boulevard at Grove Avenue. For information, 804-340-1400 or www.vmfa.museum .
