A brass and wood urn that has a decorative foot, lid, various handles and rings, and spout. The entire vessel has highly decorative engravings.

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Unknown Maker, Persian

Samovar

Now On View

Maker

Culture

Persian

Title

Samovar

Year

1800s

Medium

Brass and wood

Materials/Techniques

Techniques

Brass and wood

Materials

brass (alloy), wood

Geography

Origin: Persia

Dimensions

Height: 11.4 cm (4 1/2 inches)

Credit / Object Number

Credit

Bequest of Martha B. Lisle

Object Number

67.397ac

Type

Metalwork

Exhibition History

Trading Earth

Ceramics, Commodities, and Commerce

Apr 09, 2022 – Aug 03, 2025

Label copy

Invented in Russia in the mid-1700s, samovars are large urns typically made of brass. A vertical chamber filled with burning charcoal runs through the middle of the urn, heating the water. The heat rises up the chimney, on which a pot of very strong tea is set to steep. Once poured into cups, the tea can be diluted with water from the spout at the bottom of the urn.

Image use

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This object is in the Public Domain and available under a CC0 1.0 Universal (CC0 1.0) Public Domain Dedication

Tombstone

Unknown Maker, Persian

Samovar, 1800s

Brass and wood

Height: 11.4 cm (4 1/2 inches)

Bequest of Martha B. Lisle 67.397ac

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