The style and shape of this teapot was being produced in Augsburg, Germany in the first quarter of the 18th century. The pear shaped body is very similar in form to a standard shape that was being used at the Meissen porcelain manufactory during this period and demonstrates the strong links that existed between ceramic and silver production. The tip of the S-shaped spout is reminiscent of a dragons head, a shape which derives from Chinese export wares and found on Meissen examples.
Augsburg was a leading centre of silver production, elevated with wealth originating in Roman times from its location as a main trading route with Europe. This growing prosperity enabled affluent powerful families to become patrons of gold and silver art objects. This incessant demand created a centre of talented silver workers, to the point where with only 30,000 inhabitants in Augsburg, 270 were registered as master gold and silversmiths. This high quality of work and the reputation of the workers was coveted throughout Europe with Royal courts, churches, synagogues, and city guilds all comprising the customer base.
