Object Record
Images
Additional Images [10]
Metadata
Object ID # |
1957.016.002abc |
Object Name |
Urn, Coffee |
Title |
Meriden Silverplate Co. Coffee Urn |
Lexicon category |
4: T&E For Materials |
Date |
1869-1898 |
Year Range from |
1869 |
Year Range to |
1898 |
Made |
Meriden Silverplate Co. |
Place of Origin |
Meriden, Connecticut |
Description |
One teapot / kettle shaped coffee urn (a) with no tap. Silver-plated and extremely ornate. Fashioned to rest on a stand and pivot on the protrusions attached at the widest part of the vessel's body, it would pour from the spout. It is decorated with a thistle/flower motif that matches 002b and c. The handle is scroll-shaped and highly-decorated. The knob on the top of the lid is also ornate. The rim of the vessel is fluted and attached to the lid by a hinge. Silver plated slop cup (b). Quadruple Plate Silver, made in Meriden, Conn. as per makers mark on bottom. Top third of cup is decorated with a band engraved with a repeating thistle/flower design. The base of this cup is fluted and separate, in shape, from the body of the vessel. The silver plating shows significant wear. The lip of the cup is fluted and and bent from wear. Silver plated coffee urn stand (c). Round base with two vertical protrusions which rise to meet in an arch 50 cm above the base. There is a round protrusion in the front of the base designed to hold 'slop cup' [according to original accession documents], 1957.016.002b. The arms of the stand feature U-shaped rests for the urn's ball pivots. The stand is ornately decorated. There is a band of thistle decoration encircling the base of the stand. The cast arms feature scroll-like and geometric decoration. Curiously, they also feature framed depictions of an iguana, on one side, and a bat (unfurled) on the other. |
Makers mark |
Circular stamped mark of a lion holding a silver vase and "MERIDEN SILVERPLATE CO. QUADRUPLE PLATE". Also stamped with "485" |
Provenance |
The coffee urn and slop cup set were manufactured by the Meriden Silverplate Co. of Meriden, Connecticut between 1869 and 1898. The Meriden company was founded in 1869. In 1898, it merged with other companies to create the International Silver Co. This particular pattern, No. 485, called "......", was produced between 18-- and 18--. Last owned by Mr. W. Quay Kilbourn of Toronto who told museum staff that the tea service came from the home of his great-grandfather, Hiram Kilbourn. Hiram Kilbourn came to Owen Sound, Upper Canada, by sailing vessel, in June of 1845, via Penetang, bringing along a cargo of maple sugar, his family, and the family of Joseph McFarlane. Hiram Kilbourn was a tanner by trade. His wife was the former Eliza Seaman and they had three children with them when they arrived. They formerly had resided at Smith Falls (as did the McFarlanes). Hiram bought Lot 9 on the east side of Poulett Street (Main Street) in the village of Sydenham (later Owen Sound), circa 1846, while James Kilbourn had Lot 8. At that time, the surname was spelt as "Kilbourne". In the 1851 census of Sydenham Township, Canada West (near Owen Sound), Hiram Kilbourn and his family were farming in Sydenham Township. He was then age 36, Eliza was 30, Sarah was 12, John was 10, James 7, George 4, and Frederick was 1. |
Collection |
Food Service Tools & Equipment |
Material |
Silver/Metal |
Dimensions |
H-34.5 W-24 cm |
Found |
Owen Sound, Grey County |
People |
Kilbourn, Hiram |
Function |
This Victorian coffee urn is part of a tea service that had belonged to the Kilbourn family. See RELATED for other items that were used along with it. The Kilbourns were well-to-do, and this set was likely used for formal tea and coffee-serving occasions. |