Peter Krider Antique Sterling Hot Milk Jug, Philadelphia, PA, 1878-94

This stunning hot milk jug is a rare form and was made by the Philadelphia firm of Peter L. Krider. This wonderful pot is beautifully designed and masterfully executed with stunning details. A beautifully cast handle in the form of a branch is chased for detail and has a stump which acts as a thumbpiece. The original ivory insulators block heat from traveling up the handle. A domed hinged cover is decorated with anthemion leaves and mounted with a knob finial. repousséd and chased leaves decorate the neck and spout with amazing fineness. A wonderful, textured background is used to add 3-dimension to the various floral and foliate decoration. The base has a small, scroll skirt with four spreading feet.

Krider was one of the finest silversmiths working in Philadelphia during the 19th century. After serving an apprenticeship with the noted Philadelphia firm of R. & W. Wilson, he worked for the important Boston silversmith Obadiah Rich. Returning to Philadelphia, he started his own firm in the early 1850s. His shop excelled at casting, and was one of the largest medal making firms in the country - commissioned to make award medals for the Centennial Exposition in 1876 and others. They produced exceptional pieces (like this) which can be found in many museum collections.

This rare and lovely sterling silver pot is marked underneath 'STERLING' and by the Philadelphia retailer 'BAILEY, BANKS AND BIDDLE' along with Krider's trademark and '826'. It measures 8.5 inches high to the top of the finial, weighs 18.55 troy ounces and is in excellent crisp antique condition.