Antique novelty silver sugar scuttle

Antique novelty silver sugar scuttle

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Based on the design of an old coal scuttle, this is a lovely Victorian novelty silver sugar bowl in the form of a coal scuttle with its original silver shovel to serve the sugar. Raised on a stepped circular pedestal base, the silver scuttle's body is hand-chased with fluting interspersed with laurel leaves. The first examples appeared in the mid-19th century and most were silver plated, so a sterling silver example like this is quite rare.

The body is engraved with the motto VINCERE AUT MORI - victory or death - and the crest of the O'Hagan family.

Sugar scuttles and sugar bowls were purposely capacious. In the 18th and 19th centuries sugar was moulded into large, cone-shaped loaves weighing several pounds and each had to be broken up or grated before the sugar could be used. For anyone wanting sugar in their tea, the sugar had to be broken into irregular lumps with "sugar nippers," from which comes the traditional question "one lump or two?".

Dimensions:

Height 150 mm / 6"
Width 165 mm / 6 34"
Weight 234 g (7.52 troy ozs)
Year

1884

Place

Sheffield

Condition

Excellent

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