Mustard pot
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What is this object?
This is a mustard pot made in the early 1800s.
What is it made of?
This mustard pot is made of Britannia metal. It is similar to pewter, and a relatively affordable material at around a 30th of the price of silver. It could be polished to resemble silver, and offered an affordable alternative for middle class households.
More about the design...
This is a fairly common design of mustard pot, in the shape of a squat lidded tankard. It has a pierced work body, made by punching shapes through the surface of the metal by hand. The blue glass liner inside can be seen through the holes. This is an attractive detail which was used in many types of condiment sets. A matching spoon would have accompanied it. The surface now appears dull like pewter but could be polished to a high shine.
This design of mustard pot was introduced until around 1720, when the manufacture of mustard as a paste began. The paste could be served from the pot with a small spoon. The lid allowed the paste to be stored in the pot when not in use. The glass liner could easily be removed and cleaned.
The pot is small so it can be passed around the table and refilled with ease. The thumb-piece means the pot can be held and lid lifted with one hand, whilst the other hand serves mustard using the spoon. The pierced work finish keeps the weight minimal even with the glass lining inside.
CAFEQUE
This object features in our Learning Resource for Design & Technology students. It has been analysed using a technique called ‘CAFEQUE’ which helps students think about design. Click to listen to the audio descriptions:
