NOTES
Although a tea kettle and stand is a rather typical object for a 19th-century home, this example is exceptional in its lavish decoration. Weighing more than 10 pounds, it is ornamented from top to bottom with designs of foliage, scrolls, and scalloped shells. It has elements that are individually cast, then applied to the surface, and areas with chased designs, which are drawn into the surface with a pointed tool and a mallet. Other sections have repoussé design made by hammering out the surface from the back side.
The kettle and stand perfectly merge American craftsmanship with a European image. The central scene, depicting a man playing a lute for a woman and child, is inspired by 18th-century French prints. The object’s impressive size and decoration, however, highlight the quality and ambition of American silversmiths in this era.
