Antique silver & fluted glass pepper grinder

An Edwardian pepper mill with elegantly fluted cut glass body and silver foot and lid. The pepper grinder's original steel mechanism is in perfect working order.

Known as the king of spices, pepper is one of the oldest and most popular spices in the world as well as the most widely traded. Pepper was so valuable that in ancient Greece and Rome it was used as currency, and during the Middle Ages peppercorns were accepted in lieu of money for dowries, rent and taxes.
 
In past centuries, noble and wealthy families able to afford pepper would present it in silver pepper pots or pepperettes to beautify their table and impress their guests.