94 BULLETIN Ul^ UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM 



of cast iron, four feet, and a brass cock. The lid is capped with a 

 pheasant in pewter. The base is perforated in baluster pattern and 

 contains a single-tube lamp in which alcohol was burnt for heating 

 water in the reservoir. (PI. 81a, fig. 1; Cat. No. 130314, Morgan- 

 town, W. Va., gift of Mrs. M. L. Casselberry; 8.3 inches (21 cm.) 

 diameter, 15 inches (38 cm.) high.) The Museum has a specimen of 

 hot-water urn of britannia made in England. It is of classic shape 

 with two handles and mounted on four ornamental feet of pev, ter. 

 The cock is quite old style, of brass with ivory handle. The bottom 

 of the urn is lined with brass to resist the heat from a single-tube 

 spirit lamp. (PI. 81«, fig. 3; Cat. No. 289433, Englan.l, Anton 

 Heitmuller; 18.1 inches (46 cm.) high.) 



Preserving the Avarmth of food by means of hot water was com- 

 monly practiced in the eighteenth centurj' and the early nineteenth 

 century. It was effected by means of hollow dishes filled with hot 

 water on which was placed the food to be kept warm during a meal. 

 These dishes were useful in the period when there were no warming 

 ovens and when in some parts of the Colonies food had to be car- 

 ried some distance through the weather to the table in tiie mansion. 

 In tavern kitchens there were also great pew^ter hot-water platt(!rs 

 for the purpose mentioned. Specimens of hot-water vessels are 

 scarce and the Museum collection has only one example, a Flemish 

 hot-water dish in fine yellow brass. The dish is oblong-oval, stands 

 on four turned feet, has drop handles, and an ornamentally perfo- 

 rated lid, flanged and recurving in the top of the dish. Upon this 

 perforated area was placed whatever food w'as suitable to be warmed. 

 It is evident that fluids from roasts or moist food would drain into 

 the water pan. (PI. Sib, fig. 4; Cat. No. 169099, S. B. Dean; 19.7 

 inches (50 cm.) long, 11.8 inches (30 cm.) wide, 3.9 inches (10 cm.) 

 high.) 



Not many devices have been found in which steam is used as a 

 heating agent. One of these is a pevv'ter vessel with long spout, on 

 the end of which is set an inverted goblet-shape vessel with a small 

 ventilating hole on one side. The vessel is filled with hot water 

 and the steam passing through the spout warms the liquid in the 

 cup. (PI. 81h, fig. 2; Cat. No. 130332, Chefoo, China; Philadelphia 

 Centennial. 1876; 3.9 inches (10 cm.) diameter, 7.7 inches (19.5 cm.) 

 high.) 



A device for getting hot water quickly, especially for shaving, is 

 seen in a conical tin vessel with a hollow flange around the base. 

 Alcohol poured in the flange and lighted burned quickly around the 

 exterior of the vessel filled with water, causing it to boil imme- 

 diately. The vessel is furnished with a hinged lid and a handle 



