Teakettle
Medium
Silver and ivory
Dimensions
Overall: 15 3/4 x 9 5/16 in. (40 x 23.7 cm); 68 oz. 4 dwt. (2120.7 g) Body: H. 11 5/8 in. (29.5 cm); 42 oz. 4 dwt. (1312.6 g) Stand: H. 4 1/2 in. (11.4 cm); 21 oz. 10 dwt. (669.3 g) Lamp: H. 2 3/8 x 2 3/4 in. (6 x 7 cm); 4 oz. 9 dwt. (138.8 g)
Classification
Teakettle
Culture
American
Department
The American Wing
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Gift of Guerdon Holden Nelson, Cyril Irwin Nelson, Nicholas Macy Nelson and Michael Underhill Nelson, in devoted memory of their grandmother, Elinor Irwin Holden, and their mother, Elise Macy Nelson, 1981
Accession Number
1981.22.1a–c
Rights
Public Domain
Art Historical Context
This elegant silver teakettle, crafted 1840 by William Forbes in collaboration with the esteemed New York silversmith firm Ball, Tompkins Black, exemplifies the pinnacle of American silverwork during the early Victorian era. Fashioned from gleaming silver with ivory accents for the handles, it stands at an impressive 15 3/4 inches tall, weighing over 68 ounces—a testament to its substantial craftsmanship and luxury. The set includes a bulbous body, a sturdy stand, and a spirit lamp, designed for precisely heating water at the table, a refined ritual of hospitality in affluent 19th-century homes. In the context of American decorative arts, such teakettles were status symbols for the emerging merchant class, blending functionality with opulent design inspired by Rococo Revival motifs popular at the time. The meticulous chasing and engraving techniques highlight the silversmiths' skill, while the ivory provided a cool, ergonomic grip. Housed in The American Wing of The Metropolitan Museum of Art, this piece was generously gifted in 1981 by the Nelson family in memory of their beloved grandmother and mother, preserving a slice of domestic elegance from a transformative period in U.S. history.