Skewer
1844-1845 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
Object Type
As well as having a practical function, skewers were also sometimes added to a joint to embellish the appearance of the meat and could, as here, be quite ornate. Most skewers date from the mid-18th century to the mid-19th.
Design & Designing
Silver skewers were made in a number of sizes. The larger ones were used with meat joints and the smaller skewers with poultry or game birds. This example may have been made for use with game such as wild duck or pheasant. The skewer was of a tapering form and the plainest examples have only a ring at the top of the long blade. Any variation in style occurred mainly at the ring ends, which protruded from the meat to give a decorative effect. Shell mounts, family crests, reeded or beaded designs were popular forms of ornament. The decoration of this skewer is derived from motifs associated in ancient Greek mythology with Hermes, the messenger of the gods: it has a caduceus (the magic wand traditionally carried by Hermes), around which are entwined two serpents, crowned by a petasus (Hermes' winged hat).
Retailing
A silver skewer of a similar design to this example was advertised in the Elkington & Co. catalogue of 1885 for 16s (œ80p).
As well as having a practical function, skewers were also sometimes added to a joint to embellish the appearance of the meat and could, as here, be quite ornate. Most skewers date from the mid-18th century to the mid-19th.
Design & Designing
Silver skewers were made in a number of sizes. The larger ones were used with meat joints and the smaller skewers with poultry or game birds. This example may have been made for use with game such as wild duck or pheasant. The skewer was of a tapering form and the plainest examples have only a ring at the top of the long blade. Any variation in style occurred mainly at the ring ends, which protruded from the meat to give a decorative effect. Shell mounts, family crests, reeded or beaded designs were popular forms of ornament. The decoration of this skewer is derived from motifs associated in ancient Greek mythology with Hermes, the messenger of the gods: it has a caduceus (the magic wand traditionally carried by Hermes), around which are entwined two serpents, crowned by a petasus (Hermes' winged hat).
Retailing
A silver skewer of a similar design to this example was advertised in the Elkington & Co. catalogue of 1885 for 16s (œ80p).
Object details
| Category | |
| Object type | |
| Materials and techniques | Silver, cast |
| Brief description | meat skewer |
| Dimensions |
|
| Marks and inscriptions | Hallmarked for 1844-1845 |
| Gallery label | British Galleries:
Skewers were made for use with a range of meat from large suckling pigs to small game birds. They could test whether the meat was cooked, or embellish joints for the dining room and steady the meat for carving. This small skewer would have been used with game such as pheasant or wild duck.(27/03/2003) |
| Credit line | Given by Henry Oliver |
| Object history | Manufactured by Hyam Hyams, London |
| Summary | Object Type As well as having a practical function, skewers were also sometimes added to a joint to embellish the appearance of the meat and could, as here, be quite ornate. Most skewers date from the mid-18th century to the mid-19th. Design & Designing Silver skewers were made in a number of sizes. The larger ones were used with meat joints and the smaller skewers with poultry or game birds. This example may have been made for use with game such as wild duck or pheasant. The skewer was of a tapering form and the plainest examples have only a ring at the top of the long blade. Any variation in style occurred mainly at the ring ends, which protruded from the meat to give a decorative effect. Shell mounts, family crests, reeded or beaded designs were popular forms of ornament. The decoration of this skewer is derived from motifs associated in ancient Greek mythology with Hermes, the messenger of the gods: it has a caduceus (the magic wand traditionally carried by Hermes), around which are entwined two serpents, crowned by a petasus (Hermes' winged hat). Retailing A silver skewer of a similar design to this example was advertised in the Elkington & Co. catalogue of 1885 for 16s (œ80p). |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | M.9-1926 |
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| Record created | March 27, 2003 |
| Record URL |
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