Hot Water Urn

Description:

Two-handled, raised bulbous baluster-shaped hot water urn with overall Chinoserie and floral repousse chased decoration on a circular stand having four S-scroll legs of overlapping shells topped by putti masks and ending in shell feet that are connected by floral garlands. Flared cover with downturned, scalloped edge features an Oriental man seated cross-legged with his left hand on left knee and right arm against body for finial; matching figure serves as grip on spigot handle. Continuous landscape design around body depicts on front two birds in flight above two men walking towards each other at river's edge framed by pavilion complexes and two inclined pines, additional juts of land with pagodas and a sampan in distance; back has large pine and coconut trees bending over bridge to form empty reserve at center. High-loop, C-curve handles of overlapping leaves are pinned into ivory insulators and have bases of flared leaves. Cast garlands on the stand hide the burner frame which holds a removable, flattened globular, screw-top double spirit burner on molded foot; wicks included. Pins on small link chains fastened to the stand fit into three- and five-knuckle hinges on front and back of urn to secure it in place or allow it to tilt.

Underside of urn and burner both struck with same marks around centerpunch: an oval mark for "BAILEY & C\O/. (arched) / 136 / CHESTNUT S\T/. PHILA (curved)" in incuse roman letters below four pseudo hallmarks (spreadwing eagle clutching laurel leaves and arrows in rounded rectangle, raised roman "U" in oval, 4-pointed American shield, and left-facing saddled elephant statant in clipped-corner rectangle). Burner additionally inscribed "15398" upside down above marks. No marks on stand.

Part of six-piece coffee and tea service, DL*276317.0001-.0006.

Date Made: after 1850ca 1853 - 1857

Maker; Retailer: Bailey and Company

Location: Currently not on view

Place Made; Place Retailed: United States: Pennsylvania, PhiladelphiaPlace Owned: United States: Pennsylvania, PhiladelphiaUnited States: District of Columbia, WashingtonUnited States: Maryland, Chevy Chase

Subject: BeveragesCoffee DrinkingFood CultureTea DrinkingDecorative Motif: Chinese

Subject:

See more items in: Home and Community Life: Domestic Life, Domestic Furnishings

Exhibition:

Exhibition Location:

Credit Line: Bequest of Marion Leigh Wells

Data Source: National Museum of American History

Id Number: DL.276317.0001Catalog Number: 276317.0001Accession Number: 276317Catalog Number: 276317.1-6

Object Name: urn, hot water

Physical Description: silver (overall material)ivory (insulators material)cotton (wicks material)Measurements: overall: 15 3/4 in x 11 3/8 in x 10 1/2 in; 40.005 cm x 28.8925 cm x 26.70048 cm

Guid: http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/ng49ca746b3-aa2d-704b-e053-15f76fa0b4fa

Record Id: nmah_300037

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