Samovar

Is a type of large metal kettle of a particular design used to heat and boil water usually for making tea.

The word literally means ‘self-boiler’ and the particular design. This comprises a metal body with a tap or taps, set on legs or a base and a vertical pipe that holds solid fuel which is lit to create the heat to boil the water in the surrounding container. The body shape can be an urn, cylinder, barrel or sphere. They also have a chimney with a lid to create the draft for the pipe. Incorporating a steam vent, handles drip bowl and tea pot they are designed to contain everything needed to make tea.

Traditionally they used charcoal or coal for fuel, but more modern ones use electricity.

This design is specific to Russia, Eastern Europe, the Middle-East and Kashmir. Sizes vary from the very large (holding 400 litres) to small (1 litre).

They can be made from a wide range of metals, including copper, plain iron, polished brass, nickel, bronze, silver and gold. Antique samovars have become very collectible due to not only the value of their metal but their beautiful workmanship and decoration.

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