With spirit lamp on stand, with floral scroll ornament. Oval body; curved and looped handle; lid surmounted by conventional tongue of flame. Date 1805.
(By courtesy of Walter H. Willson, Esq.)
With spirit lamp on stand, with rococo ornament. Melon-shaped body; hinged handle; dome-shaped lid, surmounted by bell flower. Date 1820.
(In the collection of B. B. Harrison, Esq.)
The lower example, in date 1820, the last year of the reign of George III, has a melon-shaped body, and the handle is hinged. The base exhibits rococo ornament in Chippendale manner, suggesting certain designs in his Director which were too ornate to be carried out. They were only designs as suggestions rather than working drawings. But it suggests, too, curiously enough, certain forms of the watch-stand then fashionable. In fact, taken away from its present environment, it might with a very little brazing be used as a support for a watch, that is, if the lower superstructure be taken away.
Coffee Pots.—With so many varieties of coffee pot made by the leading silversmiths Sheffield had no reason to be short of examples. The coffee pot was always taller than the teapot, and it has retained its form to this day, though the earliest teapot known in this country was tall and might well be mistaken for a coffee pot; it is in date 1670 and was presented by George, Lord Berkeley, to the Honourable East India Company. They were made in various parts of the country, in London, at Chester, and the marks shown on a coffee pot made at Newcastle-upon-Tyne, in date 1737, of quite the ordinary form in use to-day, are given in the Appendix (p. [279]).
OLD FRENCH SILVER-PLATED COFFEE POT.
Made in the Sheffield manner. Ovoid body; wooden handle; dragon spout. Applied classic ornament, terminating in three legs on claw and ball feet. For marks see p. [291]. Date 1815-1820.