Coffee Pot
Unknown Artist
19th century
Medium
Copper; embossed and chased
Dimensions
H. 9 1/2 in. (24.1 cm) W. 4 15/16 in. (12.5 cm) D. 3 1/4 in. (8.3 cm) Wt. 11.4 oz. (323.2 g)
Classification
Metal
Department
Islamic Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Edward C. Moore Collection, Bequest of Edward C. Moore, 1891
Accession Number
91.1.545
Art Historical Context
This elegant 19th-century copper coffee pot, standing just 9½ inches tall, exemplifies the refined metalworking traditions of Islamic art. Crafted by an unknown artist, its compact form—measuring about 5 inches wide and weighing a modest 11.4—makes it perfectly suited for intimate social rituals, evoking the warmth of communal gatherings in Ottoman or Persian households. The pot's surface bears intricate embossed and chased decorations, techniques where artisans hammered the soft copper from both sides to raise and refine motifs in high relief. This labor-intensive process, a hallmark of Isla...