Electroplated nut pick made by William Hutton and Sons, Sheffield, late nineteenth century.

Electroplated nut picks, part of a boxed set. 11.5 by 0.8 by 0.8

Made in England

Historical significance: In the William Hutton & Sons catalogue of about 1880, they are referred to as 'walnut peelers'. A dozen examples, electroplated on nickel silver with plain ivory handles cost 17s 6d. The version with pearl handles cost 20s.
- Mappin Brothers sold "Queen's" Plate nut picks in their catalogue of 1897. These are priced at 3s for a plain ivory handled example, and 5s for a carved thorn ivory handled version.
- Known as 'nut peelers' in the J. Dixon catalogue - ivory handled examples cost 20s a dozen; pearl handled examples cost 35s a dozen.

William Hutton & Sons - this large well-known firm of manufacturing silversmiths and platers was established by William Hutton in Birmingham in 1780, transferring to Sheffield in 1832. The business continued under his son William Carr Hutton, who entered the firm's first mark in London, where the business had premises in Holborn. He was joined by his eldest son, Herbert Hutton, in 1864 and the firm became 'William Hutton & Son'. In 1869 they advertised as 'The Sheffield Fork & Spoon Manufactory...Platers and Gilders by Magnetic Electricity, Dessert Knives, Fish Carvers, Nutcrackers & Every Article for the Table'. Shortly afterwards, with the addition of sons Robert Hutton and James Edward Hutton to the business, the firm became known as 'William Hutton & Sons'. The firm acquired the business and plant of Robert Farell & Co, manufacturing silversmiths of London in 1893, and was soon after converted to a limited liability company under the name of 'William Hutton & Sons Ltd.' In 1902, they acquired the Sheffield firm of manufacturing silversmiths, Creswick & Co. They transferred to James Dixon & Sons Ltd. in 1930.

Reason For Production: Retail

Object Type
This implement is used to prise the soft flesh of the nut from its shell or to lift pieces of shell from a crushed nut. The catalogue of the manufacturer William Hutton & Sons published in about 1880 refers to these utensils as 'walnut peelers'.

Dining Etiquette
The dining etiquette of the period encouraged the development of specific utensils for eating and serving particular foods such as nuts. Dining etiquette was an important part of the Victorian code of polite society. The Manners and Tone of Good Society, first published in 1879, outlined the correct conduct of the dinner party but focused on the complicated and changing use of cutlery. With a few exceptions (such as for eating bread and some fruit), touching food with the fingers was frowned upon, and diners were presented with an alarming and growing range of specialist utensils for eating particular foods. It was important to be able to recognise items such as nut picks, sardine tongs and grape scissors, and to know how to use them correctly.

Retailing
In the 1890s nut picks could be bought individually, for between 3s (15p) and 5s (25p), or by the dozen, for between 20s (£1) with ivory handles and 35s (£1.75) with pearl handles, according to some manufacturers' catalogues. The boxed sets made ideal gifts and with the inclusion of nutcrackers and grape scissors enabled diners to eat the fruit and nuts of the dessert course more elegantly.

M.42-2000