Emigrant's teapot

This 'Emigrant’s teapot' was made by Mike Mongan.

An old man in the district around Tuam told D.J. Murphy, a collector, that emigrants going to America in the 19th century took a vessel of this type with them for making tea on shipboard. On hearing this, D.J. approached a well-known tinsmith, Mike Mongan, and asked him if he had ever heard of such a vessel. Mike made the present specimen from memory and it was same as the example which the collector had been shown previously.

The 'Emigrant’s teapot' is made of tinplate. It is a lidded mug with a pouring lip soldered on to one side. The wall of the mug adjoining the lip is pierced by 11 punched holes to make a strainer for the tea-leaves.

This teapot is also part of the series that tells the story of Ireland in 100 Objects. Lesson plans have been prepared around this object for 5th and 6th class primary school pupils. Find out more.