Silver Tea Urn with Repousse Design, Large

An extraordinary example of early 19th-century Scottish silver, this monumental sterling silver tea and hot water urn was made in Edinburgh in 1826 by Alexander Edmonstoun III. Weighing an exceptional 186 troy ounces, the urn has a remarkable sense of substance and grandeur, reflecting the importance such pieces held in the finest households of the Georgian era.

The body is lavishly decorated in high-relief repoussé with an abundance of flowers and foliage, complemented by classical acanthus leaves, a handsome gadrooned border and impressive claw feet. The richly worked surface creates a dramatic play of light and shadow, while the substantial proportions give the urn a commanding architectural presence.

Remarkably, the original burner remains intact, an especially desirable survival after two centuries. Even more unusual is the complete absence of a monogram, family crest or armorial engraving. Large and costly pieces of silver of this caliber were frequently commissioned for prominent households and personalized for their owners, making an unmonogrammed example particularly appealing to today's collector.

At 186 troy ounces, this is not simply an impressive piece of antique silver, but a magnificent survivor of Georgian Scotland—exceptional in scale, weight and decoration, yet preserved without the later removal of an engraved crest or monogram. With its original burner and exuberant repoussé workmanship, it is a true statement piece worthy of an important collection.