Image of Gallery in South Kensington
On display at V&A South Kensington
Europe 1600-1815, Room 7, The Sheikha Amna Bint Mohammed Al Thani Gallery

Box

1701-22 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

From the seventeenth century onwards, silver receptacles with two compartments were made to serve salt and pepper at the table. This type became increasingly popular during the eighteenth century. Sometimes a central compartment with a nutmeg grater was also incorporated.

The shape of this Delft spice-box was almost certainly copied from contemporary silver examples, probably from France, as French silversmiths were the most influential of the time.


Object details

Categories
Object type
Parts
This object consists of 3 parts.

  • Box
  • Box
  • Box
Materials and techniques
Tin-glazed earthenware painted with in-glaze blue and with red enamel and gilding
Brief description
Box with two compartment, tin-glazed earthenware painted in Imari colours with in-glaze colours, enamels and gilding, made at the factory "De Grieksche A", Delft, about 1700-10
Physical description
Box with two compartments, each covered with a lid which is tied on with string. The two lids have been accidentally swapped around when the box was reassembled. Painted with an oriental pattern with lambrequins in Imari colours.
Dimensions
  • Diameter: 6.6cm
  • Length: 11.2cm
  • Width: 8.6cm
Marks and inscriptions
'APK' in monogram (Painted in red)
Gallery label
Box under the ownership of Pieter Kocx, made at the factory "De Grieksche A", Delft, Netherlands about 1700-10 Mark: 'APK' in monogramme, painted in red Tin-glazed earthenware painted with in-glaze colours, enamels and gilding C.2362-1910 Salting Bequest(16/07/2008)
Credit line
Bequeathed by George Salting, Esq.
Object history
According to the Departmental Registers this object was 'formerly in the Gibson Craig collection'. This might refer to Sir James Henry Gibson-Graig of Riccarton, 3rd Baronet (1841-1908).
Historical context
From the seventeenth century onwards, silver receptacles with two compartments were made to serve salt and pepper at the table. This type became increasingly popular during the eighteenth century. Sometimes a central compartment with a nutmeg grater was also incorporated.

The shape of this Delft spice-box was almost certainly copied from contemporary silver examples, probably from France, as French silversmiths were the most influential of the time.

A silver two-compartment spice-box, made in Rome circa 1720 is in the
The Rosalinde and Arthur Gilbert Collection on loan to the Victoria and Albert Museum, London (Museum number:LOAN:GILBERT.668:1, 2-2008)

Production
Pieter Kocx was owner of "De Grieksche A" factory from 1701 until 1722.
Summary
From the seventeenth century onwards, silver receptacles with two compartments were made to serve salt and pepper at the table. This type became increasingly popular during the eighteenth century. Sometimes a central compartment with a nutmeg grater was also incorporated.

The shape of this Delft spice-box was almost certainly copied from contemporary silver examples, probably from France, as French silversmiths were the most influential of the time.
Bibliographic references
  • Ayers, J., O. Impey and J.V.G. Mallet. Porcelain for Palaces: The fashion for Japan in Europe 1650-1750. London, 1990, p. 250, cat. 280 (our spice-box is illustrated and catalogued there).
  • Alain Gruber, Silverware, 1982, pp. 166-167 discusses this type of object in silver and illustrates two examples.
Collection
Accession number
C.2362 to B-1910

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Record createdJuly 16, 2008
Record URL
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