Hot water urn

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This silver hot water urn, used to hold hot water for filling teapots at the tea table, was made in Edinburgh in 1735-6 by James Ker. Its 'egg-shaped' design is unique to Scotland and only about ten of these urns have survived.

The urn body, with its 'snake' handles, sits on three 'S' shaped legs with wooden 'bun' feet. The body is engraved with a crest containing an anchor within a spade-shaped shield.

The inspiration for the design of this type of urn may have come from silver-mounted ostrich eggs. Some of the urns may originally have had spirit burners to keep the water hot.

Record details

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• Online ID: 000-100-001-179-C
• Image Rights Holder: National Museums Scotland
• Project: National Museums Scotland
  Project description   View all records in project
• Ref: National Museums Scotland  H.MEQ 1573
• Date: 1735 - 1736
  1735-6
  
• Material: Silver. Inscription: On base: I.K; castle; AU; [date letter]; on body: an anchor within a spade-shaped shield / SPERO MELIORA
  Tea urn
  
• Dimensions: 370 mm H x 260 mm W (across handles)
  
• What: Tea urn
  
• Subject: Gold and silver (NMAS Classification)
  
• Who: Archibald Ure, assay master
  James Ker, Edinburgh (Silversmith)
  
• Where: Scotland, Midlothian, Edinburgh
  
• Event:
• Description: Ovoid, snake-handled silver tea-urn on three S-shaped legs with hoof feet, by James Ker, Edinburgh, 1735 - 1736, the body engraved with a crest and motto "Spero Meliora"
  
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