A copper and brass kettle hanging from its wrought iron tripod stand. The kettle is round, with an angular spout and tall flared collar around the lid, three stubby brass legs and brass handle fittings supporting a horizontal ebony handle. The kettle is suspended from two hooks curving down from the arched arm of the stand. The arm continues down as one of the three legs of the stand. The legs are linked at their tops by a band of wrought iron surrounding a copper burner beneath the kettle, and, halfway down the legs, by twining supports surrounding a central spike with spiraling finial. The stand is wrapped with grapevine-like tendrils of wrought iron around the middle of the legs and lower part of the arm.

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Object Timeline

-0001	We photographed this object.
1990	We acquired this object.
2004	We exhibited this object.
2014	We exhibited this object.
2015	We photographed this object. We photographed this object.
2019	We exhibited this object.
2024	You found it!

Kettle And Stand (England)

This is a Kettle and stand. It was designed by Christopher Dresser and manufactured by Benham & Froud, Ltd.. It is dated ca. 1885 and we acquired it in 1990. Its medium is copper, brass, ebony (kettle), wrought iron (stand). It is a part of the Product Design and Decorative Arts department.

Christopher Dresser (1834–1904) held a position of considerable importance in the history of design during the 19th century. His published theories on design were based on the importance of an object’s functionality and the simplicity of botanical forms. Unlike many of his peers, he recognized the implications of mechanized production and integrated an understanding of industrial processes into the development of his designs, which were produced by various manufacturing companies.
This kettle and stand, manufactured by Benham and Froud, are today rarely seen together as a pair. The kettle illustrates Dresser’s desire for undecorated, geometric forms. The stand, with its intertwined tendril-like forms, reflects his interest in botany.

It is credited Museum purchase from the Decorative Arts Acquisition Fund.

Porca Miseria! Hanging Lamp
glazed molded porcelain adhered to metal, stainless steel; halogen light source.
Gift of Peter Norton.
2010-16-1

A print of a Tasconia Pinnatistipula, a species of flower, spread across two pages vertically. Two pale fuscia flowers are at center. One is a closed bulb and the other has bloomed showing the green and yellow pistil and stamen within the flower. Dark green pistils peak through the closed petals. A dark, hunter green stem travels along the right side of the pages with vines and the two flowers budding off of it. Below the closed flower is a green tomatoe hanging from the plant. On the bottom of the page in a script font reads 'Tasconia Pinnatistipula.'

Plate, Tasconia Pinnatistipula , Paxton's Magazine of Botany, and Register...
printed paper.
Smithsonian Libraries.
23.2018.5

Hall Stand (England)
cast iron, marble, glass, brass.
Museum purchase from Walter R. Scholz Memorial and Decorative Arts....
1989-64-1

Our curators have highlighted 3 objects that are related to this one.

Sidewall (USA)
machine-printed paper.
Gift of Agnes Bourne.
2000-44-1

Studies In Design, Book
lithograph on paper.
Smithsonian Libraries, NK1535 .D77 1876.
139.2018.7

Dark-green wooden rocking chair, with tall arched back and arms formed from slender bent wooden branches. The arm branches are attached at the sides of the carved seat. The back branches wrap over the arm branches. On the back, three vertical ribs radiating up from seat. Four cylindrical legs sit on rockers, with two stretchers between the legs on each side.

Bentwood Rocking Chair Rocking Chair
painted maple.
Gift of George J. Fino.
1968-143-1

Its dimensions are

H x W x D (kettle): 24.8 x 21.6 x 15.2 cm (9 3/4 x 8 1/2 x 6 in.) H x W x D (stand): 73.7 x 40.6 x 39.4 cm (29 x 16 x 15 1/2 in.)

It has the following markings

Stamped underside of kettle and on stand: flower and globe mark of Benham and Froud.

Cite this object as

Kettle And Stand (England); Designed by Christopher Dresser (Scottish, 1834 – 1904); Manufactured by Benham & Froud, Ltd.; copper, brass, ebony (kettle), wrought iron (stand); H x W x D (kettle): 24.8 x 21.6 x 15.2 cm (9 3/4 x 8 1/2 x 6 in.) H x W x D (stand): 73.7 x 40.6 x 39.4 cm (29 x 16 x 15 1/2 in.); Museum purchase from the Decorative Arts Acquisition Fund; 1990-167-1-a/d

This object was previously on display as a part of the exhibitions Botanical Expressions, Hewitt Sisters Collect and Shock of the Old: Christopher Dresser.

Short URL http://cprhw.tt/o/2DvkV/
Accession Number 1990-167-1-a/d
Object ID 18634351