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Kettle and stand
Kandler, Charles - Enlarge image
Kettle and stand
- Place of origin:
London, England (made)
- Date:
ca. 1730-1732 (made)
- Artist/Maker:
Kandler, Charles (maker)
- Materials and Techniques:
Silver, cast, chased and engraved, with basketware handle
- Museum number:
M.49:1 to 3-1939
- Gallery location:
British Galleries, room 53b, case 2
Object Type
A tea-kettle,lamp-stand and salver, used to heat and serve hot water with which to replenish the teapot. Wicker is used in the swinging bail handle to provide insulation against the heat.
Use
The 'lamp' (burner) would be filled with spirit and lit to provide a small amount of heat to keep the contents of the kettle hot. The kettle and lamp-stand are attached to a salver, which would have protected the surface on which the set stood. The set may have been placed on a small table drawn up to a larger table.
Ornament
This set is a bold example of the exuberance of the early Rococo decorative style, which still displays elements of the sculptural movement of the Baroque period. The marine theme dominates both the sculptural and the chased decoration. The stand is made up of three mermen, and the handle is formed of mermaids, while the spout is formed of a triton, blowing a conch horn. Each side of the kettle depicts the story of the sea deities Neptune and Amphitrite, the lamp-stand is decorated with marine creatures, and the engraved armorials on the salver are flanked by further depictions of marine gods and goddesses.
