Victorian silver owl pepper caster

Antique silver pepper caster from the Victorian era in the form of an owl. This charming silver owl is nicely chased to create his feathers and extended tail feathers give him more stability. His head has been hand pierced head to dispense the pepper and his eyes are amber coloured glass.

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, in a host of novelty designs, to beautify their table and impress their guests.