Early Victorian silver drum mustard pot

Antique silver drum-shaped mustard pot with French gadroon pattern border and cobalt blue glass liner (replacement). The slightly domed cover is engraved with a family crest.

Mustard has been a popular condiment since medieval times and grand houses would appoint their very own mustarder, whose solely responsibility was to make sure the household mustard was always topped up. In those days mustard was used in dry powder form.

With growing popularity in the 18th century, mustard was produced in wet form and the desire for a specific container to serve it at the table. This spawned a variety of styles and designs, some of them in novelty forms.