An elegant antique sterling silver samovar with vase design, shaped sides and crisp hand engraving. There is a coat of arms to the front and a crest on the reverse. Inside there is a central chamber and cover where the hot rod would have been inserted. Weight 105 troy ounces approx. Height 55 cms. Spread across handles 30 cms. London 1788. Maker Henry Chawner.

Literature: Tea Urns, also known as samovars, were used for keeping hot water to replenish the teapot. They were not usually found before about 1765 and the early ones were heated with charcoal. About 20 years later more sophisticated designs were produced after the introduction of a pre heated iron rod which could be placed into the tea urn within a central tube. By the year 1800 the use of spirit lamps underneath the urn became popular. Smaller urns were also made for coffee and these normally didn’t have a heating device.