51/680/1-2

The origins of this pewter pepper pot are unknown. It is lined with tin and the top, which has thirty-six holes arranged in its sides, screws into the base. Until the eighteenth century there was no fresh meat avialable in winter and pepper, and other spices, was used to season the salted meat to make it more appetising.

1 pepper pot: metal [pewter]; good condition

MERL 'Catalogue index' card – 'This pewter pepper pot is of unknown origin. It has an ornamented knob on the apex of the top. There are 36 holes arranged in 4 upright lozenges on the sides of the top. The top screws onto the base and at this point there is a rim round the pot. Below this there is a slight narrowing and a gradual swelling out into the main container, this narrows again fairly sharply to a neck from which the base spreads out. There is a slight step round the base about .25 inche [sic] from the edge. there has been a break between the base and the main part of the pot which has been welded, but this has left a hole in the container. The pot is lined with tin. The pewter of the top and the base has not the same smooth finish as the main body of the pot. This may be because these parts were moulded and the main part of the body was turned. // It is 4.5 inches tall and 2.5 inches acroos [sic] the base where it is widest. // See also 51/679L.', No Lavinia Smith No. recorded.

Rippon, Miss Dorothy May Lyddon (Agent)