The Warwick Cruet Frame
Cruet Frame
1763-1764 (made)
1763-1764 (made)
| Place of origin |
This silver cruet frame holds two silver and glass bottles for oil and vinegar and three casters for salt, pepper and mustard. The swirling, asymmetric chasing is in the Rococo style that was fashionable when this piece was made. It is typical of the expensive decoration given to these elements of a dinner service.
From about 1700 to 1800, dishes and condiments for the table became more varied and new forms of silver vessel evolved following the lead from the French court. Cruet sets and casters for mustard, sugar and pepper often stayed on the table throughout the meal. Waiters also brought them from the sideboard to offer them to the diners. Almost all these objects were engraved with the crest or coat of arms of the owner, prominently displayed. This frame has an unidentified crest in the cartouche at the front.
From about 1700 to 1800, dishes and condiments for the table became more varied and new forms of silver vessel evolved following the lead from the French court. Cruet sets and casters for mustard, sugar and pepper often stayed on the table throughout the meal. Waiters also brought them from the sideboard to offer them to the diners. Almost all these objects were engraved with the crest or coat of arms of the owner, prominently displayed. This frame has an unidentified crest in the cartouche at the front.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Parts | This object consists of 11 parts.
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| Title | The Warwick Cruet Frame (popular title) |
| Materials and techniques | Silver |
| Brief description | Silver and glass, London hallmarks for 1763-4, maker's mark of Robert Piercy |
| Physical description | Silver and glass, comprising base with two silver and three glass containers. The casters stand on a silver base plate of cinquefoil shape, supported by four scroll legs with cast shell feet. The upper part of the frame applied with gadroon ornament consists of seven ring sockets. The two smallest lack their casters and project beyond the base plate. A central round rod screws into the base plate and is surmounted by a scrolling handle grip topped by a rocaille. The three silver casters are finely embossed with spiral wreathed fluting, the domed caps pierced between the fluting. Each with circular cast hollow feet above which the body swells to a maximum girth then narrows to a cylindrical neck. The necks with plain mouldings on which the caps fit, each cap surmounted by a fluted finial. The larger caster cap with openwork and quatrefoil piercing alternating between fluting. Both smaller caps pierced with small holes again between fluting. The two faceted plain glass casters, 6d & 6e-1968 have flat bases with cylindrical bodies tapering to narrow necks. A fluted silver cap fits over the neck of each. |
| Dimensions |
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| Style | |
| Marks and inscriptions | The silver casters are fully hallmarked on the bases under the foot ring, the baseplate of the stand also fully marked, ie. lion passant, for sterling silver; leopard's head crowned, for London assay office; maker's mark 'RP' in a rectangular punch, the initials separated by a fleur-de-lys, for Robert Piercy; date letter 'G' in a shield for the assay year 1763-64.
The silver caps marked with the lion passant and maker's initials only, those from the glass cruest are unmarked. |
| Gallery label | 26. CRUET FRAME
London, 1763-4
Mark of Robert Peaston
Engraved with an unidentified crest in a rococo cartouche. The swirling, asymmetric chasing is typical of the costly treatment given to these prominent elements of a dinner service. In 1729, the West End retailer, Thomas Folkingham, had in stock one "Waiting Cruet Frame, castors and Tops", valued at £26 12s, presumably a five bottle stand.
Mrs Helen Ives Bequest
M.6-1968 |
| Credit line | Mrs Helen Ives Bequest |
| Object history | Bequest - Mrs Helen Ives New York, U S A Acquisition RF: 66 / 3787 |
| Summary | This silver cruet frame holds two silver and glass bottles for oil and vinegar and three casters for salt, pepper and mustard. The swirling, asymmetric chasing is in the Rococo style that was fashionable when this piece was made. It is typical of the expensive decoration given to these elements of a dinner service. From about 1700 to 1800, dishes and condiments for the table became more varied and new forms of silver vessel evolved following the lead from the French court. Cruet sets and casters for mustard, sugar and pepper often stayed on the table throughout the meal. Waiters also brought them from the sideboard to offer them to the diners. Almost all these objects were engraved with the crest or coat of arms of the owner, prominently displayed. This frame has an unidentified crest in the cartouche at the front. |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | M.6 to J-1968 |
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| Record created | September 10, 2004 |
| Record URL |
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