Images(5)

Hot Water Urn

Date1824-1827

Marked by Samuel Kirk (1792 - 1872)

Assayer Leroy Atkinson

OriginAmerica, Maryland, Baltimore

MediumSilver, wood, iron

DimensionsOH: 12 1/8” OL: 9 7/8” OW (with spigot): 10”

Credit LineGift of Mrs. Edward B. Stvan

Object number2014-222,A-E

DescriptionSilver two-handled baluster-shaped hot water urn with iron heating element: A cast animal paw foot at each corner of a square base, with a circular pedestal with narrow rope-work band and applied beading, supporting a baluster body. An L-shaped spigot on lower body with handle composed of turned wooden insulating bead between two cast scroll arms. On the sides of the body, two cast everted handles attach at junctures of chased and applied grotesque faces between lion silhouettes, within matted and chased ruffled mantling. Concave shoulder with bands of rope-work and beading. Loose circular domed lid surmounted by cast pinecone finial. Front and back of body ornamented with chased double c-scroll cartouche with ruffled mantling. Lidded heating cylinder with wide circular flange fitted to upper inside edge of body, to hold removable tapered iron heating element with integral ring at top.
Label TextSamuel Kirk was the most prolific and best known of Maryland’s silversmiths. This hot water urn from 1824–1827 is the first example from his shop acquired by Colonial Williamsburg. Baltimore was unique in America for establishing an official assay office and adopting a system of marking silver to guarantee purity. Although the assay office was short-lived, the marks used there permit silver to be dated more closely than is typical of American-made wares.
InscribedChased double c-scroll cartouche on front of body engraved with crest of demi-lion rampant; chased double c-scroll cartouche on back of body engraved with sprigged script initials “GB” [?]. Inside of foot is engraved in later block letters “J.T.P. / 1936”.
MarkingsMarked in relief on bottom of body: “S. KIRK” in a rectangle; the coat of arms of Maryland in an oval; and the date letter “C” in an oval. The markings correspond with the assay marks of Leroy Atkinson, who became assayer in 1824, and introduced the large oval shield with the Maryland arms. The date letter C corresponded to 1824, and was used by Atkinson for the succeeding years of 1825-27 as well.