Tea and Coffee Machine
CultureEnglish
Dateca. 1800-1810
MediumCopper with silver plate and ivory
DimensionsOverall: 24 inches (60.96 cm)
Credit LineThe Folgers Coffee Silver Collection, Gift of The Procter & Gamble Company; Collected by Joseph S. Atha
Object numberF99-21/40 A-U
On View
Not on viewCollections
DescriptionThis set consists of a large heated urn and two smaller urns arranged on a central base so that the smaller urns can be refilled from the large urn. The urns sit on four ball feet which fit into corresponding holes in the base. Silver swags hang from the large urn. All three urns have ivory handles on the spout valves.a. small lid
b. small urn
c. small lid
d. small urn
e. large lid
f. cover for spirit burner
g. large urn
h. cover for spirit burner
i-p. eight, single rose hanging decorations
q-t. four, double rose hanging decorations
u. base for urnsGallery Label
Made to accommodate the late-18th-century to early-19th-century custom of a self-service breakfast, this tea and coffee machine would have been placed on a large serving table laden with silver serving dishes. The center urn holds the hot water heated by a spirit lamp below, and the side urns were for tea and coffee. The center urn swivels on its stem so that its tap can be used to fill the two smaller urns, each with a tap for filling cups. The urn's decorative swags reflect early-19th-century interest in Neoclassical motifs.
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Clarence John Laughlin
November 14, 1937; printed later
2005.27.1676
