Hot water urn and tea tray

Hot water urn and tea tray
Object name 
Hot water urn and tea tray
Date 
1800-1820
Medium 
Sheffield plate, wood
Dimensions 
Overall: 19 1/4 x 11 3/4 x 13 in. (48.9 x 29.8 x 33 cm)
Description 
Cast and wrought Sheffield plated hot water urn and tray; urn-shaped body with two flutes at each side of the body, at the ends; applied, concave shoulder with an applied gadrooned band around the rim; bezel inside; bright-cut band of flowers and circles below the shoulder; circular reserve on the front center of the body, surrounded by a bright-cut garland, engraved with the Beekman family crest, two wings addorsed on an armor helmet, over, "J B" in script; oval domed lid, with a deep bezel, surmounted by a ball finial; two pivoting ring handles with cylinder hinges, applied to either side of the body with cast lion's mask joints; long round spout, applied to the body with an oval joint with a reeded edge; curved spigot from a cylindrical tap with a cast ball finial and a s-scroll handle with a screw-on conical silver finial; seated on a trumpet-shaped pedestal flared to a square bottom; pedestal applied to a square base with concave sides seated on four ball feet with mid-bands; vertically applied, plain base band; wrought and seamed coal cylinder hung on an interior lip from an applied, slightly domed, oval disk with two circular holes cut out on either side; circular lid fitted into the cylinder with a ring handle; no maker's marks. Cast and seamed Sheffield plated tray; flat oval base with a wooden liner; vertically applied sides with geometric pierced work bands around the edges and pierced ovals with four leaf clovers around the center of the sides; engraved crosses made of ovals between the pierced work around the edges and bright-cut bell flower garlands around the center; applied reeded baseband and a cast, applied beaded band around the rim; cut ovoid handles at each end; no maker's marks.
Credit Line 
Bequest of Catherine Augusta De Peyster
Object Number 
1911.62a-e
Marks 
Inscription: engraved in the urn's reserve: the Beekman family crest, two wings addorsed on an armor helmet, over, "J B" in script Engraving: Top of urn, just under shoulder, has bright-cut engraved border of scrolling flowers and foliate tendrils with alternate circular rosette medallions. Center-front of urn body has lightly engraved bright-cut circular medallion framed by foliate wreath with interior script "B" surmounted by skein and helmet with spread wings, both related to Beekman family (see below and "Addendum"). Gallery of tray embellished with engraving on and around piercing. Gallery consists of three engraved and pierced bands. Central band of gallery has pierced oval floral medallions framed by engraved foliate wreaths all linked by engraved festoons of bellflowers. Central band is framed by upper and lower band of pierced and engraved floral crosses.
Due to ongoing research, information about this object is subject to change.
Creative: Tronvig Group