VAULT
LEAVES of CHANGE Two diminutive porcelain artifacts spill the tea about North Carolina’s revolutionary roots by HAMPTON WILLIAMS HOFER photography by S.P. MURRAY
T
hese days, we’re all about coffee. But three centuries ago, it was tea. A staple of the colonists’ trade with England, tea anchored social gatherings and served as a sign of refinement, particularly among those who delighted in its lavish accessories, from hand-decorated teapots to Chinese-export cups and saucers. But
two porcelain caddies — embellished vessels used to store leaves — on display at the North Carolina Museum of History represent a lot more than just the tea culture of their time. It all started with a wealthy Edentonian named Penelope Barker. Her third husband had sailed to England in 1761 and was unable to return for 17 years due to the British blockade of American
ships. While she was in charge of their estate, the drive toward independence was growing in the colonies. Patriot leaders encouraged women — the main consumers of retail goods — to boycott British imports. Barker took it to heart, making the rounds of Edenton, garnering support from local women for a boycott of British teas and textiles. On the afternoon of October 25, 1774, The Art & Soul of Raleigh | 33
