Uncommon antique silverplate muffineer, or sugar caster, manufactured by Martin, Hall & Co. of Sheffield England. A fine example of British silver plate.
This muffineer is heavily plated in silver, with virtually no dings, (a tiny surface dent is noted along the widest edge, dents or silverplate loss or wear. A very small amount of discoloration is noted to the inside bottom, but it is surface. Notice the unusual starburst design on the alternating holes of the cap.
For centuries, condiments were necessary because of the lack of refrigeration. Even when used expediently, meat sometimes had begun to spoil by the time it reached the dinner table. Spices, vinegars and oils were used to hid the pungency of the spoiling meat. In addition, salt and pepper on food were an absolute necessity at the Victorian table. Abe offers an array of antique silver plate items made for serving these condiments, ranging from fabulous silverplated cruet sets to various salt and pepper receptacles.
The basic condiment set began with salt and pepper servers. Next, a mustard jar would be added. Other containers, called cruets, were then added in various sizes. These were generally used for a variety of vinegars and oils. Another serving piece was the muffineer, a caster that held sugar or any other condiment meant to be sprinkled onto foods.
Salt was usually served in open containers, sometimes referred to as a salt cellar or salt stand. Some salt containers had glass liners to help prevent the corrosion that begins when silver and salt come in contact with each other.
Mustard was an important condiment, warranting its own server. At the time that mustard pots were in favor (probably from the 1840s on), dry mustard powder was mixed with water to make a mustard paste, as prepared mustard in its modern glass or plastic jar was not yet available until the early 1900s. Mustard is extremely corrosive to sterling and silverplate, causing a chemical reaction which results in heavy discoloration of the silver. Many mustard pots have glass liners to prevent this. Gold can also be used to provide a barrier. many old mustard ladles were gold-washed on the lower portion where the silver would have touched the mustard.
This antique silver plate muffineer measures 6.75" tall, approximately 3" in diameter at its fullest and weighs 6.6 ounces. Touchmarked on the base with M H & CO within a shield, the pattern number "B1361" and the markings for silverplate. You can read more about the history of Martin, Hall & Co. from our Silver Manufacturers pages.
A1041 - Antique Silverplate Muffineer / Sugar Caster - Martin, Hall & Co., Sheffield, England
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