Description

A handsome antique silver cruet set with a matching set of 3 silver casters and 2 silver topped and faceted crystal oil and vinegar bottles. The cinquefoil frame has 4 shell feet and a shaped decorative cartouche containing a hand engraved armorial. An unusual feature is that one small caster has been fitted with a plain inner sleeve; this is known as a “blind caster” which is the earliest form of mustard pot.

Total weight of silver 1498 grams, 48.1 troy ounces.
Caster height 19.5 and 16 cm, bottle height 18.3 cm, each with a matching hand engraved crest.
Casters London 1764, frame London 1761.
Maker John Delmester.
Sterling silver.

Marks. The cruet frame and castor bases have a full set of English silver hallmarks underneath for London 1761/66. The caster tops have the lion and makers mark only. All pieces made by John Delmester. The bottle tops are unmarked, which is normal for this time,

Literature: The earliest cruet frames contained 3 castors and 2 glass bottles and are not found before 1700. This form is named the “Warwick” cruet after the cruet created by Anthony Nelme in 1715 for the Duke of Warwick. Occasionally one finds the two bottle oil and vinegar frame at this date although this form is more usually found on the continent. Later in the 18th century the number of bottles could be as many as 8 or 10 and these would have contained a variety of sauces of the period such as soy, ketchup, tarragon etc and they may have had little sauce labels to identify the contents.