Description

An antique silver sugar caster (muffineer) from the early 1700 period in the desirable octagonal shape. The pull off top has panels of pierced decoration. Hand engraved to the front is a decorative cartouche containing a family armorial for Kesser Vanderplank.

Weight 361g, 11.6 troy oz.
Height 21cm.
London 1718.
Maker William Fawdery.
Britannia standard silver 95.8% purity.

Marks. Stamped underneath with a full set of English silver hallmarks. Lion and maker’s marks on the rim of the top.

Arms. These are the marital arms of Kesar/Kesser Vanderplank, merchant of Lothbury, London and his wife Catherine Pembroke of St. Albans, Herts. They married on 27th March 1739 in the Fleet (a liberty where the laws of London pertaining to marriage, debt etc. did not apply), so theirs was a clandestine marriage. The engraved arms post-date the caster itself.

Literature. 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.
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 pure. 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.

This fine antique castor is in very good condition with moderate signs of wear commensurate with age.

Maker: William Fawdery

William Fawdery was apprenticed to Robert Cooper in 1683, free 1694. 1st mark (Britannia standard) entered as largeworker 1697. 2nd mark, (Britannia standard) 1720. 3rd mark (Sterling) 1720. Died circa 1727 when Hester Fawdery, his widow, entered her own mark. William’s younger brother John was apprenticed to Anthony Nelme 1688, free 1695.

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