A George I vase-shaped blind-pierced mustard pot on a spreading circular foot, with a moulded body band and compressed baluster finial, the body engraved with a monogram within an elaborate foliate cartouche, the cover engraved with aperture motifs in the style of a contemporary sugar caster, Edward Gibbon, London 1724 - 5¼in.

Sale of Silver and Plate Tuesday, March 30, 1993 at 10.30am and 2.00pm On View Friday, March 26 1993 from 11.00am to 5.00pm. and Monday, March 29, 1993 from 9.00 am to 7.30pm The Coleman Collection will also be on view on Saturdy, March 27, 1993 from 10.00am to 1.00pm and morning of sale from 9.00am to 10.00am. The afternoon session will also be on view on Tuesday, March 30, 1993 from 9.00am to 12noon. Catalogue Morning Session, at 10.30 a.m. THE COLMAN COLLECTION OF SILVER MUSTARD POTS. The use of mustard enjoys an extremely long history. It has been traced back as far as 3000 B.C. in India, and was much employed by both the Ancient Greeks and the Romans. Produced by crushing the brown and white seeds of certain members of the Brassica family of plants, the coarse powder was often mixed to a paste with honey or sugar, oil and vinegar. In Britain mustard was used at least from Roman times, and by the 13th. century "mustarders" or sauce-makers were attached to most wealthy households, their product used to disguise the unpleasant flavour of tainted meat, or to enliven bland dishes, served especially during lent, when fish had to be consumed. Vast quantities of mustard were used, the Earl of Northumberland's Household Book, started in 1512, recording the consumption of between 160 and 190 gallons of prepared mustard each year. Although mainly used for culinary purposes, mustard was also praised by herbalists as a remedy for various ailments. These ranged from a protection against snake and mushroom poison (Culpeper) to a pain-killer especially useful for combatting tooth-ache (Gerarde). The latter also advised that a mustard poultice would remove the visible signs of bruising. Although mustard paste could be purchased ready-made most consumers preferred to grind their own seeds, adding other ingredients to create a mixture to suit their personal taste. Mrs Clements of Durham started to market mustard powder circa 1720, passing the seeds through a number of mills to achieve a fine, flour-like consistancy. Messrs. Keens established a factory in Garlick Hill, London, where they continued in business until their eventual takeover by Colmans in 1904. Jeremiah Colman was originally a flour-miller, who took over a flour and mustard mill just outside Norwich in 1814. The company expanded until, from 1854-1856, it moved to the present site in Carrow, Norwich. At first the mustard seeds, mainly grown under contract with local farmers, were pounded to a powder in vast mortars. The 1870's saw the introduction of rolling mills. This method reduced the seeds to a much finer powder, which was then packed into a variety of containers for consignment to wholesale and retail markets. Although powdered mustard was, at first, often sprinkled directly onto foodstuffs, by the mid 17th. century prepared pastes were more frequently used. As a result many casters were converted into mustard pots, their pierced covers inset with solid silver sleeves. "Blind" casters with engraved simulated piercing were produced en suite with pepperettes, their use over-lapping with the manufacture of "mustard tankards" or "mustard cans" with cylindrical bodies, often finely-pierced with repeat designs. Mustard pots can be considered as relatively insignificant pieces. Nevertheless they represent a microcosm of contemporary taste, following current fashions as silversmiths exploited neo-classicism and later movements right up to the present day to produce many splendid pieces. The Colman Collection includes examples from 1724 to 1981, illustrating the enormous range of pots still available. It has been on loan for display in various museums including The Victoria and Albert in London and The Metropolitan in New York, and Colmans have offered a copy of their 1981 exhibition catalogue to each successful purchaser. Many of the mustard pots which we are offering are illustrated in the exhibition catalogue, although Colmans continued to add to their collection after this was produced. The pots were displayed in purpose-built show-cases, now available for sale by private treaty. Photographs of the cabinets can be inspected in the Silver Department.

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