A RARE REGENCY SHEFFIELD PLATE TEA AND COFFEE MACHINE

Details

A RARE REGENCY SHEFFIELD PLATE TEA AND COFFEE MACHINE
CIRCA 1815

Comprising: a tea urn and a pair of coffee urns on shaped platform stand, each urn spherical with gadrooned mid-band and rim and removable domed cover with spherical finial, with two lion's mask pendant ring handles and tubular spout with ivory urn-form spigot, with four reeded paw supports on incurved square base with four ball feet, the lamp spherical with gadrooned mid-band, the two tiered stand on four ball feet with reeded rim, kettles and stand engraved wtih a crest within a shield cartouche and foliage, apparently unmarked
23½in. (59.7cm.) high

Lot Essay

A tea machine of similar form appears in a Sheffield Plate catalogue of about 1808, which describes it thus: "the Large Urn turns upon B to supply the two smaller Urns with Water, the 1 for Tea, the other for Coffee. All the Urns take off the Frame at A to use separately if requir'd..."--this last comment perhaps providing a clue as to their rarity. Another similar tea and coffee machine was sold in these Rooms, October 30. 1990, lot 124.

[Photo Caption:] Catalogue of Sheffield Plate Wares of about 1808. Private Collection