Image of Gallery in South Kensington
On display at V&A South Kensington
Silver, Room 67, The Whiteley Galleries

Caster

ca. 1810 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

In 19th-century India, casters or muffineers usually came in sets of three to carry salt, pepper and cayenne. Early casters were designed to be portable, as they did not automatically appear on the Indian dinner table, hence their cylindrical form which allowed them to be tucked into their owner's cummerbund.


Object details

Categories
Object type
Parts
This object consists of 2 parts.

  • Caster
  • Lid
Materials and techniques
Silver, the inside gilt
Brief description
Silver, Calcutta, about 1810, mark of Hamilton and Co
Dimensions
  • Height: 9.0cm
  • Width: 5.4cm
Marks and inscriptions
Bottom: “H and Co” for Hamilton & Co., animal (elephant?), letter A
Credit line
Sir William Lawrence Gift
Object history
Gift & received from Sir William Lawrence, Dorking
Anglo-Indian. Urn-shaped, with circular foot and pierced cover surmounted by a foliated knob.
In 19th-century India, casters or muffineers usually came in sets of three to carry salt, pepper and cayenne. Early casters were designed to be portable, as they did not automatically appear on the Indian dinner table, hence their cylindrical form which allowed them to be tucked into their owner's cummerbund.
Summary
In 19th-century India, casters or muffineers usually came in sets of three to carry salt, pepper and cayenne. Early casters were designed to be portable, as they did not automatically appear on the Indian dinner table, hence their cylindrical form which allowed them to be tucked into their owner's cummerbund.
Collection
Accession number
M.180&A-1922

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Record createdMarch 3, 2004
Record URL
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