Accession Number

983.136.001a-c

Description

a. round revolving silver tier decorated with 13 cartouches along its side, its circular top with round openings to hold the six cranberry-glass condiment bottles; b. a round base that tapers into a small round point to screw into the handle, the base decorated with seven cartouches depicting frolicking cherubs, the stand's bottom marked "Canadian Silver Plating" and "Electra Triple". c. the handle tall, with one rod, looped in the centre

Narrative

Cruet sets were commonplace on British and North American dining tables during the late 19th Century. They were not looked upon favourably by all people familiar with the culinary arts:

"A cook having any self-respect, and any respect for his art, has a right to feel insulted if a guest proceeds to powder his food with salt and pepper before having even tasted it. Such a barbarous proceeding implies disastrous social antecedents on the part of the guest, unaccustomedness to delicate eating, or a callous and bluntness of palate which renders him unworthy to taste any but the rankest food and the most scarifying of spiritous liquors.
 
For such palates as these, deadened by the abuse of tobacco and whiskey, special relishes have been invented of a penetrating and fiery nature, fabricated according to recipes bequeathed by deceased noblemen, and sold in bottles decorated with strange labels and under titles which I will not enumerate.
 
In order to facilitate the use of these diabolical and dyspepsia-producing relishes the contrivance known as a cruet-stand has been elaborated, and now, for years and years, has figured on Anglo-Saxon dinner-tables as a hideous and ever-present reminder of the wretched state into which the art of cookery has fallen in Anglo-Saxon countries." ¹

1. Child, Theodore. Delicate Feasting (New York: Harper & Brothers, 1890)

History of Use

Unknown. This cruet set was purchased at auction by President James K. Nesbitt of The Castle Society on February 20, 1979.

Date

circa 1900

Dimensions

42.5 cm
18 cm

Material

Metal, silver; Glass

Serial Number

144

Technique

Plated