Tuesday, March 8, 2011

Kettle Stand




Atlanta Stove Company hand Forged and Cast iron Kettle Stand.

 
Stark Brothers Nursery, Louisiana, Mo.
Lloyd Stark original owner of the Kettle Stand
  Many years ago, when I was first starting out  as an antique collector, I  lived across the street from a old mansion, that was owned by the 39th Governor of Missouri, Lloyd C. Stark.After his death, there was an estate sale and I have a few treasures from that old historic house. I was just out of college and  had a brand new job, teaching art, in Louisiana, Mo.I think I was making a grand $12,000.00 a year, so you can see there was not a lot of money for antiques. I did find one thing that I have loved and held onto ever since that sale. A hand forged with cast iron pieces, kettle stand. I have seen two others since that day. I bought one of the others and resold it. The other was in a book about iron furniture.
    Lloyd C Stark was born in 1886 and died in 1972. He  was elected the 39th Governor of the Great State of Missouri in 1939. Stark was part of a family ,rather prominent, in Missouri and was active with his brother,Paul,in the family owned business-Stark Brothers Nursery,in Louisiana,Mo. At one time the nursery was the oldest in America  and the largest in the world. The nursery claims to have developed the Stark Golden Delious Apple. They also made great discovers in other fruit developement. Mr. Stark lived in a grand old house that was known as Aberdean. It still stands today and is owned by a good friend of mine.


My Kettle Stand with English original copper tea kettle.
Detail of the feet, hand forged with cast detail.


A found this candle snuffer many years ago and added it to the side holder where there had been one originally. I have never found and oil burner for it that is just right,

   Cast Iron furniture was introduced to the American public around 1835-1850. The earlist cast iron furniture was made by foundries specializing in architectural elements  and made the furniture as a side line. Cast Iron is made by pouring molten metal into a mold, a process that makes it easier to create flued and intericate designs. Hand forged furniture was made by a Blacksmith and each piece was heated and hammered and bent into shape. Latter the two processes, hand forges and cast were married up and it made the work go faster and the Smith could do things that were not possible without the casts. My Kettle Stand is a combination of the two.
    Atlanta Stove Company in Atlanta, Georgia, made lots of cast and forged iron pieces, along with there stoves. There stamp is on my Kettle Stand. Some of the most beautiful fences, furniture and fountains came from this company.


The Kettle Stand would be carried into the dining room or where ever tea was to be served.


See how beautiful the copper kettle is.
The missing burner would go below the kettle
   I keep the kettle Stand on the screen porch in the summer. In the winter it lives in the corner of my country kitchen. There would have been a burner under the kettle to keep the coffee, tea or water hot. The stand would be placed by the table so the hostess could reach it and serve. My stand has a wonderful copper kettle. It was on the stand when I bought it from the Stark Estate. It was so green that I had it cleaned up.The kettle is marked England. The stand was black when I got it and it stayed black for years. Last summer I painted it white for its new home ,on my screen porch, that also is home to a lot of Victorian Wicker, and that will be  another post latter this spring.
   I hope you enjoy my Little Stand and it's story. Come by any time for a tour. I will leave the lights on and Sissy Dog will meet  you with a jump and a kiss.




14 comments:

Divine Theatre said...

That is a very interesting story! I have seen them in antique stores but I had no idea what they were!

Sweet Old Vintage said...

I also own a kettle stand with some kind of fuel heating devise that slips into the hole... I am not sure what it burned... Mine is shorter and would have set on a table I believe... It has a small silver teakettle with it...

Happy To Be/ Gl♥ria said...

Richard Good Morning my friend..First let me say a HUGE thank you for doing bigger photos ha ha!! I can now see all the great details of all your wonderful things..How fun is thid kettle stand and the copper kettle is wonderful..and to know where it came from is PRICELESS my friend..Give Sissy some fur love from me..Hugs and smiles Gloria

Stacy Leigh said...

This is a very neat peice Richard! You have the greatest stuff ever!!!

lvroftiques said...

Yep I have to concur Richard you DO have the coolest stuff! Love this kettle stand. And it's really a huge boon to have the provenance of a piece like that.
Your comment over at my place made me LOL! "Less is for boring people"! I'm going to remember to use that one my friend! No surprise that you, Gloria and I all liked the more is more approach *winks* Vanna

The Gilded Cherub said...

Hi Richard,

I just love the kettle holder and the copper kettle..its just wonderful! I love everything you have and your home is lovely, I wish I lived closer I would love to tour your home!! Do you get that often? Thank you also for stopping by my blog and leaving that sweet comment about my wedding.

Have a wonderful Day!

Lorene
The Gilded Cherub

Glenda/MidSouth said...

I want to say I have seen one some where before, but not that ornate. Thanks for sharing it with us.
Enjoy your evening.

Tallulah's Antique Closet said...

I luv the wrought iron and it is so decorative looking. Say hola to Miss Sissydog. Have a great evening......Julian

xinex said...

What a cute kettle stand, Richard. It is so ornate!...Christine

Marcia said...

Those ancestors of ours certainly were clever, having a beautiful way to keep the water hot right by the table. Your kettle stand is amazing, and I love that it once belonged to the Starks!

Sissysmom said...

Love the kettle stand!!

Brigitte said...

Hi Richard,
Throughout all of our antique hunting,auctions etc. I have never seen a kettle stand at all anywhere,at least I don't recall.If I saw one I have to admit I probably would have thought it was a plant stand.
Thank You for sharing your knowledge.I LOVE it and I can't wait to see your wicker pieces.I can just imagine how the porch looks like knowing your taste.

Rose ~Victorian Rose ~ said...

Oh I SO LOVE, LOVE , LOVE white wrought iron...I have never seen a kettle Stand before. Lucky you.
Also ever so love white Victorian Wicker.

Rose

Unknown said...

I have the same exact stand complete with tea kettle and burner. Mine is painted black as it was originally and the piece holding the tea kettle is actually made of brass once the old paint was stripped from it we were able to see that. Where is the makers Mark located on your stand?