Cover for a Coffee Urn

c. 1843

Cover for a Coffee Urn, c. 1843. Samuel Kirk (American, 1793–1872). Silver; overall: 7.6 x 9.8 cm (3 x 3 7/8 in.). The Cleveland Museum of Art, Gift of Victoire Rankin in honor of Stephen Harrison's great service 2021.121.b Samuel Kirk was a leading American silversmith in the early 19th century whose Baltimore studio had became a major American silver company that thrived throughout the middle of the 20th century. This cover is part of a large, impressive coffee urn. This highly decorated example was considered the ultimate in Samuel Kirk silver and was largely made by hand. The decoration on this coffee urn was achieved through a technique known as "repoussé" in which the design was hammered into relief from behind.