This 19th-century antique brass kettle is a beautiful example of early Arts and Crafts design, blending robust construction with artisan metalwork. It features a distinctive pumpkin-shaped body with a hand-hammered texture that catches the light wonderfully. The fixed overhead brass handle is fitted with a turned ebonised wood grip, designed to insulate the hand from heat. The inset lid is decorated with a fluted, swirling design and finished with a simple brass finial. The kettle stands on three small, solid brass feet.
Dating from the late Victorian period, this piece reflects the core philosophy of the Arts and Crafts movement, which rejected mass machine production in favour of traditional craftsmanship and visible hand-made details. Over decades of heating and cooling, the brass has developed historic stress lines and cracks to the lower body, which are typical of genuine period metalware.
The kettle shows a beautiful historic patina, with rich verdigris around the solder joints and rivets. The interior displays expected age-related wear and scaling. Due to the historic stress cracks, the kettle is no longer watertight and is sold as a non-functional decorative item.
Dimensions: Height: 22cm Length: 29cm Width: 19cm