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Tea kettle and stand
  • Tea kettle and stand
    Dresser, Christopher, born 1834 - died 1904
  • Enlarge image

Tea kettle and stand

  • Place of origin:

    England (made)

  • Date:

    1880 - 1890 (made)

  • Artist/Maker:

    Dresser, Christopher, born 1834 - died 1904 (designer)

  • Materials and Techniques:

    Electroplated nickel silver with ebonised wooden details

  • Museum number:

    M.935-1983

  • Gallery location:

    Silver, Room 67, The Whiteley Galleries, case 16 []

Christopher Dresser was one of the most talented designers to graduate from the South Kensington, Government School of Design. Unlike Ruskin or Morris, he fully accepted the implications of mechanical production and was always more interested in design than craftsmanship. In 1876, he made his first visit to Japan which had a profound effect on him. Many of his highly original shapes for metalwork arose out of a dual concern for the techniques for mass production and the function of the articles he designed.

Physical description

The ovoid body is surmounted by a plain rim supporting the lid and is secured within the stand by a similar flange at the base. The plain tapering spout angled sharply upwards is attached to the front of the body near the base directly opposite is a double T shaped handle of ebonised wood which is attached to the body by rivets in two plain sockets. The lid is a plain disc with a small expansion hole drilled off centre and an internal flange to secure it within the neck of the vessel. The ebonised wooden finial is ovoid repeating the outline of the vessel and is surmounted by a moulded metal knop which is the top of the thread running through the centre, securing the finial by a circular nut on the underside of the lid.

Place of Origin

England (made)

Date

1880 - 1890 (made)

Artist/maker

Dresser, Christopher, born 1834 - died 1904 (designer)

Materials and Techniques

Electroplated nickel silver with ebonised wooden details

Dimensions

Height: 18.5 cm, Width: 20 cm, Diameter: 13 cm

Object history note

A similar version of this design was also manufactured in silver.

Descriptive line

Electroplate with ebonized wood details, England, ca.1880-90, designed by Christopher Dresser

Production Note

Manufacturer unidentified

Materials

Nickel silver; Silver; Wood

Techniques

Spinning (metalworking); Soldering; Electroplating; Ebonising

Categories

Containers; Metalwork; Tea, Coffee & Chocolate wares; Scotland

Collection

Metalwork Collection

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