Pitcher, Ice Water

Object Name:

Pitcher, Ice Water

Object ID:

1995.513.13

Creator:

Lyman, William W.

Place of Origin:

West Meriden, CT

Date:

circa 1859

Description:

Pitcher, cold water, a.k.a. "Refridgerating (sic) Pitcher." Silver-plated white metal. Conical-shaped double-walled pitcher with attached hinged lid. D-shaped handle and covered spout. Both sides of pitcher have identical oval medallions with engraved and bright cut surround. Oval medallion has right-facing profile of man's head wearing a plumed helmet with image of a winged horse on the helmet; the medallion depicts Mars, the Roman god of war. Medallions are cast silver with raised image and a pebbly background. Medallions are soldered onto body of pitcher; the engraved surround is a scroll motif with the scrolls filled with lines and curves. Domed lid is attached with a single long hinge that is soldered to lid and body. Finial is a cast swan with extensive details on the feathering. It appears to be soldered to lid. Concentric lines on interior of lid and small hole at center of interior of lid. D-shaped handle in form of a twisting tree trunk with cast leaves at the junctures. Thumb rest, projecting in shape of a cut branch. Relatively small spout that has five facets, decorated with leaves at base of each facet. Half-round pedestal decorates bottom of spout. Spout cover terminates in two arches and has a mid-rib for its full length. Interior of spout has a movable flap (to regulate temperature). Interior bottom of pitcher is concave. Hole in center of base exterior. Seam line visible from interior. Stamped on bottom exterior in sans-serif letters, "LYMANS PATENT / JUNE 8. 1859" (note that the actual patent date was June 8 1858). Also stamped "28".

Material:

Metal
Silver

Dimensions:

H-12.3 W-10.625 D-7.75 inches

Credit Line:

New Hampshire Historical Society Collection

People:

Lyman, William W. (1821- )