Author unknown, Buliera - a vessel for boiling water

plater on copper, England?, ca. mid-19th century, height 28 cm.

On a quadrilateral base with ball-shaped feet on a widening stem, a spherical, flattened vessel with a lid and a faucet-shaped spout. The plain vessel is decorated in the middle of its height with canneling, on the sides handles in the form of antabas held in their mouths by plastic heads of lions. Cannelled, arched lid with handle.
A thick-walled vessel, a kind of "thermos" used to serve boiling water for making tea - a typical 19th century appliance in many English wealthy homes. A fun item for "Downton Abbey" lovers.