Samuel Kirk & Son
“Etruscan” Hot Water Urn
1844
Physical Qualities
Silver, ivory, 16 3/4 × 5 3/4 in. (42.5 × 14.6 cm.)
Credit Line
Bequest of Georgiana Williamson in Memory of her Parents, David B. Williamson and Mary A. Butler Williamson
Object Number
1959.64
Hot water urn made by Samuel Kirk & Son, c. 1850; silver, repoussé, hand chased. Part of a 7-piece coffee and tea service given to David and Mary Williamson for their wedding. The engraved monogram reads "MAB" which stands for Mary A. Butler; the bride. Made in the popular "Etruscan" pattern which was first introduced and named by Kirk in 1840. Also known as the 'Landscape' or 'Castle' pattern. The design features varying romantic scenes based on classical Italianate buildings, lush gardens with exotic plants and birds, bridges, trees, and dense floral ornament on a stippled background. This hot water urn has a classic urn shape with a tall, slender body and two swan-neck cast handles with flowers and foliage. The domed cover has a fruit finial and the spigot is topped by a cast eagle finial. It urn is set on a squared, cast and pierced foot decorated with flowers and foliage. Ivory insulators are present on the spigot. There is heavy rope molding around the base.
Baltimore Museum of Art by bequest, 1959; Georgina Williamson (1865-1959) likely by descent; David (1831-1886, m. 1860) and Mary Butler Williamson (1837-1904) New York, NY by gift, 1860
Jennifer Faulds Goldsborough, "Eighteenth and Nineteenth Century Maryland Silver in the Collection of The Baltimore Museum of Art." Baltimore: The Baltimore Museum of Art, 1975. p. 154, ill.
Inscribed: Engraved on side: monogram "MAB" [script], for Mary A. Butler (Williamson)
Markings: Struck on underside: "S.KIRK & SON / 11 oz"