Coffeepot

01

Artifact Overview

Tin-plated iron, commonly called "tin," was the dominant material for utilitarian items in 19th-century America. Local tinsmiths produced an almost endless range of goods. But as more durable and lower maintenance materials emerged, handmade tinware came to be considered a folk art or heritage craft. This coffeepot was made in a mid-20th-century tin shop using historical tinsmithing tools and techniques.

Artifact Details

Artifact

Coffeepot

Creator Notes

Made by the Ford Motor Company Tin Shop.

Location

Not on exhibit to the public.

Object ID

00.136.346.1

Credit

From the Collections of The Henry Ford. Gift of Ford Motor Company.

Material

Tin (Metal)

Color

Gray (Color)

Dimensions

Height: 9.25 in
Width: 7.5 in
Length: 8.5 in

02

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    Tin-plated iron, commonly called "tin," was the dominant material for utilitarian items in 19th-century America. It was lightweight, inexpensive, easy to clean, non-toxic, and durable. Tinware resisted corrosion and had a pleasing silvery appearance that could be enhanced through decoration. Middle-class Americans happily purchased tinware in place of equivalent housewares made from earlier materials like wood or pottery.