Figured Coffee Service
MakerMade by
Stuart Devlin
(Geelong, Australia, born 1931)
Date1982
Object NameCoffee Service
Mediumsilver, gilt
ClassificationsApplied Art
DimensionsOverall (coffee pot): height 29.4cm
Handle to Spout (coffee pot): width 17cm
Base (coffee pot): diameter 10cm
Overall (milk jug): height 13.5cm
Handle to Spout (milk jug): width 8.9cm
Base (milk jug): diameter 6.1cm
Overall (sugar bowl): height 7.3cm
Overall (sugar bowl handle to handle): width 13.3cm
Base (sugar bowl): diameter 8.6cm
Handle to Spout (coffee pot): width 17cm
Base (coffee pot): diameter 10cm
Overall (milk jug): height 13.5cm
Handle to Spout (milk jug): width 8.9cm
Base (milk jug): diameter 6.1cm
Overall (sugar bowl): height 7.3cm
Overall (sugar bowl handle to handle): width 13.3cm
Base (sugar bowl): diameter 8.6cm
AcquisitionPurchased in 2013 with assistance from the National Fund for Acquisitions.
Copyright© Stuart Devlin (2004)
LocationOn Display - Gallery 06
Object numberABDAG011463
About MeThe coffee service is known as the Figured Coffee Service as each piece has a band of gilt figures as a detail just below the upper edge. All the exterior surfaces, with the exception of the top of the coffee pot lid, are textured. His concept of the introduction of tiny figures into his pieces was, initially, as supports for precious stones set into the work. He called the figures ‘caryatic’ after the caryatides or female figures used by the Greeks as columns to support the roofs of their temples. The coffee service has sometimes been referred to as the Caryatide Coffee Service and sometimes the People Coffee Service.More About Me
Devlin called the figures in this set ‘caryatic,’ after the Greek caryatides. Caryatide are stone pillars supporting Greek (or Greek-style) buildings, carved to look like female figures.
Exhibitions
Eric Ravilious
