Reed and Barton Company (founded 1840)
Tea and coffee set, 1958
Manufactured in Taunton, Massachusetts
Pewter with plastic wrapped handles, 5 13/16 x 8 7/8 x 6 3/16 in. (14.8 x 22.5 x 15.7 cm)
Yale University Art Gallery
2000.11.1.1-.4
Of the many commercial manufacturers of pewter in the twentieth century, the firm of Reed and Barton consistently produced the most original designs with the highest quality workmanship. John A. Prip, the designer of this teapot and a central figure in modern American design, comes from a family of Danish metalworkers. In addition to designing and crafting pieces for Reed and Barton, Prip also served as an instructor at the Rhode Island School of Design. The rounded, organic belly of the pot and the crescent moon finial on the lid are elements of the organic, Scandinavian-influenced style that became popular in postwar America. The black plastic cording wrapped around the handles serves not only as a decorative element but also as heat insulation.
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