What is a samovar and how does it work?

A samovar is a large metal urn that is used to heat and boil water, typically for tea. Traditional samovars have a vertical tube in the center that heats up the water using charcoal, kerosene or electricity. A valve at the base of the device dispenses the water. On 1stDibs, find a collection of authentic samovars from some of the world’s top dealers.