This is an early example of a silver bullet teapot. The name ‘bullet’ refers to its spherical body and is thought to derive from its similarity to the round lead musket balls used at this time. The bullet shape succeeded pear-shaped teapots, which were inspired by Chinese export porcelain examples, and became especially fashionable during the reign of George I. Like this example, bullet teapots were typically plainly decorated with flat covers, cylindrical spouts and mounted on a stepped foot. This teapot was made by Paul Crespin, a renowned silversmith of Huguenot descent working in England at this time. Following his apprenticeship to Jean Pons in 1713, Crespin entered his first marks between 1720 and 1721 and succeeded in gaining a high reputation for producing items of silver of exceptional quality.
