Hot water urn

Louisa Courtauld

1765–66 · Silver · European Sculpture and Decorative Arts

Tea was brewed in small silver or ceramic teapots. As it cooled or became bitter, a hostess could refresh the pot with hot water poured from a kettle or urn. While a kettle was kept hot with a lamp burning mineral spirits, urns had the advantage of a simple interior compartment that held a heated iron rod or block. The design of this vase-shaped vessel reflects an awareness of Classical forms, but the scrolling ornament is firmly rooted in the rococo.

Artist

Louisa Courtauld

Date

1765–66

Medium

Silver

Culture

British, London

Department

European Sculpture and Decorative Arts

Credit line

Gift of Madame Lilliana Teruzzi, 1966