Tea Rusk and Brick House

1870s
Not on view
Rusk—a hard biscuit made of twice-baked bread—was a popular snack, valued for its long shelf life. Bakers often produced rusks, biscuits, gingerbread, and tea-cakes to be hawked by boys and young men in the streets. At least once, the city revoked its permission to employ such peddlers because of the boys’ disorderly behavior. Bakers petitioned the council for a reprieve, noting the popularity of the portable snacks with "Country people, Boatmen, and other transient persons." The location of this stately brick house is a mystery, but we know from the plaque located just below the roof that it was insured against fire losses by the Mutual Insurance Company.

Artwork Details

Object Information
  • Title: Tea Rusk and Brick House
  • Artist: William P. Chappel (American, 1801–1878)
  • Date: 1870s
  • Culture: American
  • Medium: Oil on slate paper
  • Dimensions: 9 1/8 x 6 in. (23.2 x 15.2 cm)
  • Credit Line: The Edward W. C. Arnold Collection of New York Prints, Maps, and Pictures, Bequest of Edward W. C. Arnold, 1954
  • Object Number: 54.90.503
  • Curatorial Department: The American Wing

More Artwork

Research Resources

The Met provides unparalleled resources for research and welcomes an international community of students and scholars. The Met's Open Access API is where creators and researchers can connect to the The Met collection. Open Access data and public domain images are available for unrestricted commercial and noncommercial use without permission or fee.

To request images under copyright and other restrictions, please use this Image Request form.

Feedback

We continue to research and examine historical and cultural context for objects in The Met collection. If you have comments or questions about this object record, please complete and submit this form. The Museum looks forward to receiving your comments.