Nutmeg grater, walnut and bone, France, probably Dieppe, ca. 1720-50

Nutmeg grater of engraved bone and walnut; one cover is missing. The complete object is barrel-shaped, the central portion of bone being turned with a screw at each end to receive the covers and decorated with a lightly engraved band of springs of flowers and leaves, coloured green, red, brown and black; the circular metal rasping-plate is foxed at one end. Of the remaining cover the greater portion of wood, is turned with three reeded bands; the end is closed by a circular plaque of bone screwed into it; this is engraved round the edge with a zig-zag line coloured red and on the face with a single-flowered sprig, coloured red and green, within a narrow slightly raised border.

Given by J.H Fitzhenry, Esq.

Given by J.H Fitzhenry, Esq. in 1902.

This bone and walnut grater is decorated with an engraved band of floral sprigs and leaves, which are coloured green, red, brown and black. It would originally have had another cover, screwed into the base, now missing. This grater is likely to date from the mid-eighteenth century, and is almost certainly French, made in Dieppe.

1423-1902