Caster
mid 18th century-late 18th century (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
This type of small container with a pierced cover is called a caster. It is used for ‘casting’ or sprinkling sugar, salt, ground pepper and spices or dry mustard powder over food. This particular caster is very well made and was therefore probably originally silvered (covered with a thin layer of silver).
Brass coated with a thin layer of silver offered a cheaper and convincing alternative to sterling silver. Cast brass with a silvered surface was a relatively common silver substitute until the discovery of Sheffield plate in 1742. This new material consisted of a thin layer of silver fused to a copper core and provided a cheaper and more versatile alternative to sterling silver. Silver, Sheffield plate and brass casters were all popular items of tableware.
Brass coated with a thin layer of silver offered a cheaper and convincing alternative to sterling silver. Cast brass with a silvered surface was a relatively common silver substitute until the discovery of Sheffield plate in 1742. This new material consisted of a thin layer of silver fused to a copper core and provided a cheaper and more versatile alternative to sterling silver. Silver, Sheffield plate and brass casters were all popular items of tableware.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Materials and techniques | Brass, cast and turned |
| Brief description | Brass caster with moulded foot and a lid pierced with holes and surmounted by an acron-shaped knob, English, mid - late 18th century |
| Physical description | Bulbous body, with moulded foot; domed lid pierced with circular holes and surmounted by an acorn knob. |
| Dimensions |
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| Credit line | Bequeathed by Miss Ethel Gurney |
| Subject depicted | |
| Summary | This type of small container with a pierced cover is called a caster. It is used for ‘casting’ or sprinkling sugar, salt, ground pepper and spices or dry mustard powder over food. This particular caster is very well made and was therefore probably originally silvered (covered with a thin layer of silver). Brass coated with a thin layer of silver offered a cheaper and convincing alternative to sterling silver. Cast brass with a silvered surface was a relatively common silver substitute until the discovery of Sheffield plate in 1742. This new material consisted of a thin layer of silver fused to a copper core and provided a cheaper and more versatile alternative to sterling silver. Silver, Sheffield plate and brass casters were all popular items of tableware. |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | M.205-1939 |
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| Record created | February 9, 2004 |
| Record URL |
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