Zeldzame 18e-eeuwse zware tinnen theeketel met drakenkop-tuit – Paul Friedrich Ebert, Auerbach - Tea kettle - Pewter

Rare 18th-century heavy tin tea kettle with dragon-head spout – Paul Friedrich Ebert, Auerbach (Saxony), ca. 1760–1780

An exceptional heavy and rare 18th-century tin tea kettle / c boiling kettle (Teekessel mit Schwenkbügel), made in Auerbach in the Voigtland (Saxony) by master tin-smith Paul Friedrich Ebert I (master from 1759, active until ca. 1800).

Design & Details:
Spout: Richly sculpted spout that ends in a detailed head of a mythical creature/dragon with an open mouth serving as the pouring outlet.
Body: Profiled baluster-shaped belly with double pronounced ribs around the middle and an upstanding collar.
Mounting: Movable, stoutly forged tin handle/support arm that swings smoothly on two heavy ears on the shoulder.
Lid: Hinged, domed lid crowned with an elegant baluster-shaped knob.
Marks: On the inside of the bottom, pouring/quality marks in relief (city mark Auerbach and master mark).

Interior of lid with strike/assay mark near the hinge.

Small stamp on the shoulder near the base of the spout.

Specifications:
Origin: Germany, Auerbach (Vogtland, Saxony)

Master: Paul Friedrich Ebert I (Master 1759)
Dating: Second half of the 18th century (ca. 1760–1780)
Height: 16 cm (to the lid knob; with the upright handle ca. 25 cm)
Weight: 1,469 grams (very massive)

Condition:
In authentic, very good antique condition with a beautiful, untouched matte gray patina. No cracks or major dents; hinge and handle operate properly. Light age-appropriate surface wear consistent with an age of ca. 250 years.