Teakettle
1710–20
Medium
Silver
Dimensions
Overall: 10 1/8 x 10 5/8 in. (25.7 x 27 cm); 47 oz. 13 dwt. (1481.7 g) Base: Diam. 7 3/8 in. (18.7 cm) Body: H. 7 7/16 in. (18.9 cm)
Classification
Teakettle
Culture
American
Department
The American Wing
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Bequest of James Stevenson Van Cortlandt, 1917
Accession Number
40.145a, b
Art Historical Context
Crafted by New York silversmith Cornelius Kierst around 1710–20, this elegant teakettle exemplifies early silverwork during the colonial era. Standing at 10 1/8 10 5/8 inches and weighing a substantial 47 ounces, it reflects the craftsmanship of a master artisan whose family had deep roots in the city's Anglo-Dutch silversmithing tradition. Kierstede pieces, often marked with his distinctive touchmark, blended European influences like the restrained Queen Anne style—characterized by graceful curves and balanced proportions—with practical functionality for the emerging colonial elite. Silver t...