Chafing Dish

Peter Van Dyck

ca. 1725 · Silver · The American Wing

Originally a continental form, the silver chafing dish appeared in England by the fifteenth century. These vessels were more frequently made in copper, brass, iron, or pewter than in silver. Consisting of a pierced bowl with a removable grate, three scrolled knops to support a plate or bowl, and a wood baluster-form handle, the standard eighteenth-century model was fueled by hot coals. The initials “S” over “I S” engraved beneath this chafing dish are those of the original owners, John Schuyler (1705–1773) and his first wife, Sara Walter (1704–1734), who were married on January 20, 1729.

Artist

Peter Van Dyck

Date

ca. 1725

Medium

Silver

Culture

American

Department

The American Wing

Credit line

Dodge Fund, 1935