Victorian silver owl pepper caster

£875

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Category

Tableware Condiments & cruets

Maker

George John Richards

Reference

8523

Antique Victorian era silver pepper castor in the form of an owl. The piece has glass eyes inset and has a hand-pierced head.

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:

Height 71 mm / 3"

Width 35 mm / 1 ³⁄₄"

Depth 35 mm / 1 ³⁄₄"

Weight 45 g (1.45 troy ozs)

Year

1856

Place

London