Collection
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Decorative Arts and Design

Hot Water Urn

American; Simeon Soumaine

1 of 4

Object Label

Long assumed to be the work of an American workshop, this silver urn bears a mark, “SS,” that is now known to be that of Sun Shing, a Chinese silversmith who worked in the port city of Guangzhou (formerly known as Canton). Sun Shing made pieces for European and American consumers in the clean-lined, Georgian style practiced by Paul Revere and his contemporaries. Later in the nineteenth century, Sun Shing’s workshop would adapt to changing Western tastes, making heavier, more elaborately decorated pieces and adding more “Chinese-looking” motifs such as dragons and pagodas.

Caption

American; Simeon Soumaine (American, baptized 1685–ca. 1750). Hot Water Urn, 1800. Silver, bone or ivory, pigment, Lid and body together: 18 3/4 × 10 1/2 × 8 1/2 in. (47.6 × 26.7 × 21.6 cm) Lid only: 6 × 4 1/2 in. (15.2 × 11.4 cm) Body only: 15 1/8 × 10 1/2 × 8 1/2 in. (38.4 × 26.7 × 21.6 cm). Brooklyn Museum, George C. Brackett Fund, 33.244. (Photo: Brooklyn Museum)

Gallery

Not on view

Title

Hot Water Urn

Date

1800

Medium

Silver, bone or ivory, pigment

Classification

Food/Drink

Dimensions

Lid and body together: 18 3/4 × 10 1/2 × 8 1/2 in. (47.6 × 26.7 × 21.6 cm) Lid only: 6 × 4 1/2 in. (15.2 × 11.4 cm) Body only: 15 1/8 × 10 1/2 × 8 1/2 in. (38.4 × 26.7 × 21.6 cm)

Markings

S S in rectangle. (refers to maker Sun Sing, from Canton, China)

Credit Line

George C. Brackett Fund

Accession Number

33.244

Frequent Art Questions

  • What liquid would this vessel have held?

    This urn would have held boiling hot water to make tea. I love the little piece of bone dyed green to resemble jade

  • What is this? It looks like a Russian samovar, but it’s in the Asian art section.

    Much like a samovar, this is a hot water urn. It was made in China for export to the United States. Following the American Revolution, the US traded directly with China for silver goods at a fraction of the prices they paid under British rule. They wished to demonstrate their affluence. This urn was also used for tea in a communal setting over long periods of time.

  • What was this used for?

    This urn was meant for hot water, just like one you might see at a meeting today! Moving the green handle opened the spigot and you could pour water into your cup for tea.

Have information?

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Artists and makers

American

1,739 works in the collection

Simeon Soumaine

3 works in the collection