Coffeepot

This substantial coffeepot is enlivened by the undulating line of its pear-shaped body, the tight curves of its spout and handle, and the upward lift of the finial atop the lid. The dynamic interplay of curving form and line is one characteristic of silver in the rococo style. Another is the rich vocabulary of shells, acanthus leaves, and scrolls that form the cast handle sockets, finial, and spout. The coffeepot's cast elements were tooled to sharpen the details, add textures, and enrich their surfaces. Finishing of this quality is extraordinary, even for silver made by Myer Myers, a craftsman of Jewish ancestry, who is celebrated as one of the best and most innovative silversmiths of colonial New York.