Pair of silver-gilt sparrow pepperettes
Pair of silver-gilt sparrow pepperettes
8967
Pair of rare antique silver pepperettes or pepper casters in the form of sparrows. Made in the Victorian era these cast peppers are beautifully made and delicately decorated with realistic feathering; each with slightly different detailing. Their pierced heads pull off and the original gilding is still visible.
Known as the king of spices, pepper is one of the oldest and most popular spices in the world as well as the most widely traded. Pepper was so valuable that in ancient Greece and Rome it was used as currency, and during the Middle Ages peppercorns were accepted in lieu of money for dowries, rent and taxes.
In past centuries, noble and wealthy families able to afford pepper would present it in silver pepper pots or pepperettes, in a host of novelty designs, to beautify their table and impress their guests.
Dimensions:
1879
London
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