Kettle Stand thumbnail 1
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Image of Gallery in South Kensington
On display at V&A South Kensington
British Galleries, Room 52b

Kettle Stand

ca. 1760 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

Object Type
Kettle stands were sometimes used next to tea tables as a separate support for the kettle when serving tea. The water in the kettle was heated by a small burner beneath. Having the kettle in the room in front of guests highlighted the polite ceremonial nature of the tea-making process. This stand is of a particularly high quality.

Design & Designing
The stand is finely carved, with a pierced gallery around an octagonal top. The supporting stem is fluted, or cut in grooves, with the knob below carved with spiral grooves. The tripod legs are carved with acanthus leaves and end in scrolled feet. The pierced gallery and curved legs were fashionable design features of the 1760s. A design similar to this stand appeared in The Universal System of Household Furniture by William Ince and John Mayhew, published in 1762. However, the person who designed or made this stand is not known.

Materials & Making
The use of mahogany, expensively carved, shows the attention and expenditure which was devoted to furniture used for serving tea.


Object details

Categories
Object type
Materials and techniques
Carved mahogany
Brief description
Kettle stand
Physical description
Mahogany kettle stand. The stand is finely carved, with a pierced gallery around an octagonal top. The supporting stem is fluted, or cut in grooves, with the knob below carved with spiral grooves. The tripod legs are carved with acanthus leaves and end in scrolled feet.
Dimensions
  • Height: 67.3cm
  • Width: 28cm
  • Depth: 28cm
Dimensions checked: Registered Description; 01/01/1998 by KN
Gallery label
  • KETTLE STAND ENGLISH; about 1760 Mahogany(pre October 2000)
  • British Galleries: These stands enabled the hostess (rather than a servant) to serve the tea. They were often finely carved like this one. Some provided a sliding panel to place a cup to catch drips from the spout. The gallery prevented the kettle from falling off.(27/03/2003)
Credit line
Given by Brigadier W. E. Clark CMG, DSO through Art Fund
Summary
Object Type
Kettle stands were sometimes used next to tea tables as a separate support for the kettle when serving tea. The water in the kettle was heated by a small burner beneath. Having the kettle in the room in front of guests highlighted the polite ceremonial nature of the tea-making process. This stand is of a particularly high quality.

Design & Designing
The stand is finely carved, with a pierced gallery around an octagonal top. The supporting stem is fluted, or cut in grooves, with the knob below carved with spiral grooves. The tripod legs are carved with acanthus leaves and end in scrolled feet. The pierced gallery and curved legs were fashionable design features of the 1760s. A design similar to this stand appeared in The Universal System of Household Furniture by William Ince and John Mayhew, published in 1762. However, the person who designed or made this stand is not known.

Materials & Making
The use of mahogany, expensively carved, shows the attention and expenditure which was devoted to furniture used for serving tea.
Collection
Accession number
W.7-1961

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Record createdJanuary 26, 2001
Record URL
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