Two-handled, ovoid hot water urn with incurved neck and low-domed cover topped by a cross-and-flared-square finial on four legs ending in lion's paw feet. Flat-chased mimosa foliage on body and a curvilinear cross design on lid. Sharply-angled handles, square in section, have scroll-ended upper terminals and square-and-scroll lower terminals. Circular lion's masks are at top corners of handles and middle of leg mounts. Double-baluster spigot has twist handle with knobs. Circular frame riveted to interior of legs holds a removable, scroll-handled, single-wick spirit burner. Underside of concave base is struck incuse with a circular mark containing a pointed shield with balanced scales bordered by "MERIDEN / B. COMPANY" in sans serif letters; "PATENT APPLIED FOR" is stamped above and "1877" below. From a six-piece coffee and tea service, 1984.0424.13-.18.
Maker is Meriden Britannia Company of Meriden, CT. Meriden Britannia Co. was founded in 1852 and became a subsidiary of International Silver Co. in 1898; International continued to use the Meriden name and mark until at least the 1930s.