Mustard Pot thumbnail 1
Not currently on display at the V&A

Mustard Pot

1773-1774 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

Classical pilasters, hung with laurel swags tied with bows, form the framework for this Parisian mustard pot, of a type popular in the two decades before the French Revolution. Like salt, mustard corrodes silver, so a blue-glass liner forms the pot and offers a deep background to offset the silver.


Object details

Categories
Object type
Parts
This object consists of 2 parts.

  • Mustard Pot
  • Liner
Materials and techniques
Silver and glass
Brief description
Silver mustard pot with glass liner, three openwork panels formed from Classical pilasters hung with laurel swags tied with bows, Vincent Breant, Paris, 1773-1774
Physical description
The body consists of three openwork panels, formed of pilasters supporting capitals. The pilasters are hung with laurel swags tied with a bow; from the bow of the centre panel hangs an oval medallion engraved with a coat of arms: or a cross pattee gules, with two lions regardant as supporters and the coronet of a marquis above.

Inside of lid. Maker's mark of Vincent Breant; Warden's mark: a crowned K for 14 July 1773 to 16 July 1774; Charge mark: a flower flanked by ornamental fleurons, the charge mark for small pieces of gold and silver registered by the official Julien Alaterre on 23 December 1768, and in use until 1 September 1775. On handle: maker's mark, warden's mark, charge mark again. Discharge mark: a helmeted head, registered by Alaterre as a discharge mark for small pieces of gold and silver.
Dimensions
  • Base of feet to top of lid finial height: 11cm
  • From side of vessel to furthest point of handle length: 11.5cm
  • Width: 7cm
  • Across base diameter: 7cm
Gallery label
  • MUSTARD-POT Silver, with blue glass liner (renwed). Maker's mark of Vincent Breant. FRENCH; PARIS HALL-MARK FOR 1773-4. (Fitzhenry Collection.) M. 173-1914.(Pre-2000)
  • Silver Gallery: Classical pilasters, hung with laurel swags tied with bows, form the framework for this Parisian mustard pot, of a type popular in the two decades before the French Revolution. Like salt, mustard corrodes silver, so a blue-glass liner forms the pot and offers a deep background to offset the silver.(26/11/2002)
Object history
A cruet in very similar style by the same maker and dating from 1774-5 is in the Musee des Arts Decoratifs, Paris. The type was very popular during the two decades before the Revolution. The arms have not been identified. See: Bunt, C.G.E. "18th C. French Silver" (article archives) for general points.
Acquisition RF: 13/6092M.
Subjects depicted
Summary
Classical pilasters, hung with laurel swags tied with bows, form the framework for this Parisian mustard pot, of a type popular in the two decades before the French Revolution. Like salt, mustard corrodes silver, so a blue-glass liner forms the pot and offers a deep background to offset the silver.
Bibliographic reference
Lightbown, R. W., French Silver, p.82, HMSO, 1978
Collection
Accession number
M.173:1, 2-1914

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Record createdFebruary 19, 2004
Record URL
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