Vintage silverplate muffineer, or sugar caster, with fleur-de-lis openings in the caster lid, marked for LANSON LTD. of Birmingham, England - E.P.N.S., L. Ltd. MADE IN ENGLAND. A fine example of British silver plate.
This muffineer is heavily plated in silver, with silverplate wear or loss, and only one pin-prick size ding in the lid. A very small amount of discoloration is noted to the inside of the cap, but the body of the muffineer, or sugar caster, is very clean. Notice the unusual fleur-de-lis design on the cap.
The fleur-de-lis (also spelled fleur-de-lys; plural fleurs-de-lis or -lys; an archaic spelling is fleur-de-luce) is used in heraldry, where it is particularly associated with the French monarchy (see King of France). The fleur-de-lis remains an unofficial symbol of France, but has not been used as an official symbol by the various French republics.
The variant fleur-de-luce has been interpreted as meaning "flower of light" since lux (oblique stem luc-) is Latin for "light". The name translates into English as "lily flower", and the symbol is in fact a stylized Iris.
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. Perfect for French toast or pastries!
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.
Lanson Ltd. was located in Birminham, England during the first half of the 20th century; late 1800's to mid -1900's era. This vintage silver plate muffineer or sugar caster with the Fleur-de-lis design measures 6.875" tall, 3" in diameter and weighs 4.4 ounces. Touchmarked on the body of the muffineer or sugar caster with E.P.N.S., Lanson Ltd and MADE IN ENGLAND.
A1292 - Lanson Ltd. Vintage Silverplate Muffineer / Sugar Caster Fleur-de-lis E.P.N.S. Birmingham, England
$145.00
