Coffee Pot thumbnail 1
Image of Gallery in South Kensington
On display at V&A South Kensington
British Galleries, Room 53

Coffee Pot

1749-1750 (hallmarked)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

Object Type
For this coffee pot, ivory has been used for the handle because of its heat-resistant properties. A matching tea kettle is in the collection of the Museum of Fine Arts, Richmond, Virginia.

Style
A standard baluster form of pot and cover has been transformed by elaborate and fantastical marine decoration characteristic of the flamboyant Rococo style The form of the finial and of the spout is composed of boldly-modelled cast elements, also on a marine theme.

Design Sources
Much of the decoration is taken from ornamental engravings by the celebrated French designer Jacques de Lajoue (1686-1761). The sea-horse is from his Second livre de cartouches, published in Paris in 1734, while the dolphins and boat are based closely on a design from the Recueil nouveau de differens cartouches, also of 1734. The sea-horse motif that appears on both the coffee pot and the tea kettle also forms part of the decoration of the enamelled porcelain service made in China for Leake Okeover (1701-1765) around 1740. The goldsmith who made this pot, James Shruder (active 1737-49), unusually designed his own trade card, and he was probably responsible for the scene depicting Poseidon with his trident.


Object details

Categories
Object type
Materials and techniques
Silver, cast, chased and engraved, with an ivory handle
Dimensions
  • Height: 28.3cm
  • Width: 26cm
Dimensions checked: Registered Description; 01/01/1998 by LM
Marks and inscriptions
Engraved with the arms of Okeover impaling Nichol, for Leake Okeover (1701-1765) and his wife, Mary Nichol
Gallery label
British Galleries: The goldsmith took parts of the design from French Rococo prints published around 1734. Such prints, and their English copies, taught British craftsmen about Rococo ornament. Until about 1740 the style was largely confined to silver and prints in Britain.(27/03/2003)
Object history
Made in the London workshop of James Shruder (active 1737-1749)
Summary
Object Type
For this coffee pot, ivory has been used for the handle because of its heat-resistant properties. A matching tea kettle is in the collection of the Museum of Fine Arts, Richmond, Virginia.

Style
A standard baluster form of pot and cover has been transformed by elaborate and fantastical marine decoration characteristic of the flamboyant Rococo style The form of the finial and of the spout is composed of boldly-modelled cast elements, also on a marine theme.

Design Sources
Much of the decoration is taken from ornamental engravings by the celebrated French designer Jacques de Lajoue (1686-1761). The sea-horse is from his Second livre de cartouches, published in Paris in 1734, while the dolphins and boat are based closely on a design from the Recueil nouveau de differens cartouches, also of 1734. The sea-horse motif that appears on both the coffee pot and the tea kettle also forms part of the decoration of the enamelled porcelain service made in China for Leake Okeover (1701-1765) around 1740. The goldsmith who made this pot, James Shruder (active 1737-49), unusually designed his own trade card, and he was probably responsible for the scene depicting Poseidon with his trident.
Collection
Accession number
M.312-1975

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Record createdApril 27, 1999
Record URL
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