{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O78420"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O78420/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2006AN2425/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2006AN2425/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"high","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2006AN2425","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2006BJ1625","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2006AN2457","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":{"_iiif_pres":"https://iiif.vam.ac.uk/collections/O78420/manifest.json","_alt_iiif_pres":[]}},"record":{"systemNumber":"O78420","accessionNumber":"M.1065-1927","objectType":"Nutmeg grater","titles":[],"summaryDescription":"<b>Object Type</b><br>This portable container in the shape of a walnut  was used to carry and grate nutmeg. An expensive and fragrant spice, nutmeg is the commercial name of the seed kernel of  an evergreen tree, <i>Myristica fragrans</i>.  It was imported into England  from the East Indies, especially from islands that now form part of  Indonesia.  Initially nutmeg was believed to offer  protection against the plague,  but by the mid 17th century it was more commonly used to flavour food and drink. It was an important ingredient of punch and hot mulled wine.  <br><br><b>Design & Use</b><br>Nutmeg graters first appeared in the mid 17th century, with greater refinement in dining and a wider ownership of silver for the table. They were either carried in the pocket or included in a travelling canteen that might also contain cutlery, a beaker and  a corkscrew.  The graters reached the height of their popularity in the next century. Cheaper, thinner gauge silver, new manufacturing techniques and greater prosperity led to an enormous growth in items of small personal silver. Nutmeg graters were then made in a variety  of  forms, from  cylindrical, circular or oval boxes to more unusual designs such as hearts or shells, to express the owner's taste and individuality.","physicalDescription":"Nutmeg shaped. Silver, hinged lids and grater","artistMakerPerson":[{"name":{"text":"Unknown","id":"A1848"},"association":{"text":"","id":""},"note":""}],"artistMakerOrganisations":[],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[],"techniques":[],"materialsAndTechniques":"Silver","categories":[{"text":"Eating","id":"THES48963"},{"text":"Metalwork","id":"THES48920"}],"styles":[],"collectionCode":{"text":"MET","id":"THES48599"},"images":["2006AN2425","2006BJ1625","2006AN2457"],"imageResolution":"high","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"52A (VA)","id":"THES49768"},"free":"","case":"CA3","shelf":"","box":"2"}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"Nutmeg Grater","id":""}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[{"place":{"text":"England","id":"x28826"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"productionDates":[{"date":{"text":"1800-1850","earliest":"1800-01-01","latest":"1850-12-31"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"associatedObjects":[],"creditLine":"Gift of Guy and Rupert Oswald Smith","dimensions":[{"dimension":"Height","value":"3.5","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""},{"dimension":"Width","value":"3.5","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""},{"dimension":"Length","value":"4.5","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""}],"dimensionsNote":"Dimensions checked: Measured; 31/01/1998 by MH","marksAndInscriptions":[{"content":"unmarked","inscriber":{"name":{"text":"","id":"A8728"},"association":{"text":"","id":""}},"date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"description":"","interpretation":"","language":"","medium":"","method":"","position":"","script":"","translation":"","transliteration":"","type":"","note":""}],"objectHistory":"Made in England","historicalContext":"","briefDescription":"Nutmeg grater, silver, made in England, 1800-50","bibliographicReferences":[{"reference":{"text":"","id":""},"details":"","free":"Philippa Glanville and Sophie Lee, eds., <u>The Art of Drinking</u>, V&A Publications, London, 2007, p. 109"}],"production":"","productionType":{"text":"","id":""},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[],"contentConcepts":[],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[],"partNumbers":["M.1065-1927"],"accessionNumberNum":"1065","accessionNumberPrefix":"M","accessionYear":1927,"otherNumbers":[],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE"],"assets":["2019LN1606","2019LR0148","2019LP4753","2019LT8497"],"recordModificationDate":"2025-05-02","recordCreationDate":"2003-03-27","availableToBook":false}}