Coffee Urn 1840 - 1865

This gleaming coffee urn was crafted by Roswell Gleason, a 19th-century American artisan. Note its elegant, classical form, reminiscent of ancient vessels designed for communal gatherings. The urn is a vessel, the embodiment of potential, of what it can contain. The urn's design is functional, but also symbolic. The spout, from which the liquid flows, echoes the cornucopia, or horn of plenty, a symbol of abundance and nourishment found in classical art. Consider how the image of water pouring from a vessel appears in countless artistic traditions, from ancient Greek libations to Renaissance fountains. In each context, the act of pouring, whether water or wine or, in this case, coffee, becomes a gesture of offering, hospitality, and connection, reflecting a deeply ingrained human desire for sharing and community. The design of the urn, therefore, does not only serve a practical purpose, but also taps into this collective memory, reminding us of the simple, yet profound, ritual of sharing a drink.