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Spice Box

1728-1729 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

The spice box was a French introduction to English silver. The earliest London examples bear Huguenot makers' marks. The gilded interiors protect the silver from oxidisation caused by the salt. This box was marked by Anne Tanqueray, the daughter and wife of Huguenot goldsmiths, who registered her own lozenge-shaped maker's mark at Goldsmiths' Hall after the death of her husband, David Tanqueray, in about 1724.


Object details

Categories
Object type
Parts
This object consists of 3 parts.

  • Spice Box
  • Nutmeg Grater
  • Lid
Materials and techniques
Silver with gilt interior, engraved, raised and cast, pierced steel grater
Brief description
An octagonal silver spice box in two sections with gilt interior on four claw feet with in the centre a cylindrical steel grater.

Silver,English

Silver,English
Physical description
A silver octagonal spice box with two gilded compartments and a central cylindrical steel nutmeg grater on four claw feet. Engraved with the royal cipher GR within the Garter Ribband, crowned. The maker's mark AT is surmounted by a sun with a scallop shell below in a lozenge (indicating female gender)
Dimensions
  • Height: 6.5cm
  • Length: 11.75cm
  • Width: 8cm
  • Weight: 476.5g
Style
Marks and inscriptions
  • Engraved with the royal cypher GR within a Garter Ribband crowned (An indication that this was a royal order during the reign of George II (1727-1760))
    Translation
    GR for Georgius REX
  • Town mark: London
Gallery label
SPICE BOX Silver London, 1728-9 Mark 'AT' with a sun and scallop shell for Anne Tanqueray The form derives from a contemporary French model used by Huguenot goldsmiths. The central socket contains a nutmeg grater and the other compartments could hold a choice of condiments. By the early eighteenth century, following French practices in dining, the spice box was an essential element of the civilised table. The engraver garter badge indicates that the box was issued by the Jewel House to a court official. Given by Mr and Mrs W.W.Simpson M.181-1913
Credit line
Given by Mr. and Mrs. W.W. Simpson through Art Fund support
Object history
Gift - Mr.& Mrs WW Simpson
through the NACF
Acquisition RF: 13 / 6110
Historical context
The spice box is a French form which is rare in English silver known as a salt box in the early 18th century. The two compartments were intended for salt and pepper. The cylindrical grater is for nutmeg, a spice which was much used in the early 18th century, particularly for punch and other warm alchoholic drinks
Summary
The spice box was a French introduction to English silver. The earliest London examples bear Huguenot makers' marks. The gilded interiors protect the silver from oxidisation caused by the salt. This box was marked by Anne Tanqueray, the daughter and wife of Huguenot goldsmiths, who registered her own lozenge-shaped maker's mark at Goldsmiths' Hall after the death of her husband, David Tanqueray, in about 1724.
Bibliographic reference
V&A Catalogue, 1920, No. 100, pl.38.
Collection
Accession number
M.181:1-1913

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Record createdSeptember 10, 2004
Record URL
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