Tea Canister & Cover

Date1720-1730

MediumBrass; silver (silvered brass)

DimensionsOH: 4 1/2" OL: 3 5/8"

Credit LineGift of Sidney Paul Steed in memory of Frank P. Dickinson

Object number1990-37

DescriptionElongated octagonal tea canister with hinged cover; coat of arms engraved on face; traces of original silvering remain.Label TextA less durable alternative to fused silverplate (Sheffield plate) was French plate. French plating involved burnishing, or rubbing, silver leaf onto a prepared and heated surface with a smooth-faced tool. The technique was used mainly on brass objects that were akin to silver forms such as this handsome tea canister.Inscription(s)Engraved coat of arms on face.Mark(s)NoneProvenanceSidney Paul Steed, Yorktown, VA