Description

A matching pair of early English antique silver muffineers from the early 1700 Queen Anne period. Britannia standard silver*. Bayonet fitting and with the desirable octagonal panelled design. Incredible weight. These lovely castors are made of cast silver and feel good in the hand. The pull off tops are prettily pierced. Each has a hand engraved cartouche to the front containing 3 lions crowned. Total weight 554 grams, 17.8 troy ounces. Height 18.5 cms. London 1708. Makers mark for Richard Syng.

Literature: *Britannia Standard silver. In 1696, so extensive had become the melting and clipping of coinage that the silversmiths were forbidden to use the sterling standard for their wares, but had to use a new higher standard, 95.8 per cent. New hallmarks were ordered, “the figure of a woman commonly called Britannia” and the lion’s head erased (torn off at the neck) replacing the lion passant and the leopard’s head crowned. This continued until the old standard of 92.5 per cent was restored in 1720. Britannia standard silver still continues to be produced even today. Casters didn’t become common household objects until the late 17th century. They were made in varying sizes and designs and were usually for sugar or pepper although the blind caster, the earliest form of mustard pot, was used for dry mustard. The old spelling ‘castor’ is less frequently used nowadays