{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O78651"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O78651/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2006AM3552/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2006AM3552/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"high","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2006AM3552","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":{"_iiif_pres":"https://iiif.vam.ac.uk/collections/O78651/manifest.json","_alt_iiif_pres":[]}},"record":{"systemNumber":"O78651","accessionNumber":"M.930-1927","objectType":"Nutmeg grater","titles":[],"summaryDescription":"<b>Object Type</b><br>This portable container  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. The vase shape of this grater  reflects the fashionable Neo-classical style of the later 18th century.","physicalDescription":"Silver, urn shaped, bottom cast, hinged lid and side, engraved decoration","artistMakerPerson":[],"artistMakerOrganisations":[{"name":{"text":"E. Robinson and T. Phipps","id":"A10531"},"association":{"text":"maker","id":"AAT251917"},"note":""}],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[],"techniques":[],"materialsAndTechniques":"Silver, with iron grater inside","categories":[{"text":"Metalwork","id":"THES48920"}],"styles":[],"collectionCode":{"text":"MET","id":"THES48599"},"images":["2006AM3552"],"imageResolution":"high","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"52A (VA)","id":"THES49768"},"free":"","case":"CA2","shelf":"","box":"19"},{"current":{"text":"004","id":"THES404454"},"free":"","case":"","shelf":"","box":""}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"nutmeg grater","id":"AAT200453"}],[{"text":"case","id":"THES251008"}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"","note":""},{"apprise":"","note":""},{"apprise":"","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[{"place":{"text":"London","id":"x28980"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"productionDates":[{"date":{"text":"1809-1810","earliest":"1809-01-01","latest":"1810-12-31"},"association":{"text":"hallmarked","id":"x32454"},"note":""}],"associatedObjects":[],"creditLine":"Gift of Guy and Rupert Oswald Smith","dimensions":[{"dimension":"Height","value":"7","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":"Depth","value":"2.5","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""}],"dimensionsNote":"Dimensions checked: Measured; 24/11/1998 by MH","marksAndInscriptions":[{"content":"Engraved with 'SW'","inscriber":{"name":{"text":"","id":"A8877"},"association":{"text":"","id":""}},"date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"description":"","interpretation":"","language":"","medium":"","method":"","position":"","script":"","translation":"","transliteration":"","type":"","note":""},{"content":"","inscriber":{"name":{"text":"","id":""},"association":{"text":"","id":""}},"date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"description":"","interpretation":"","language":"","medium":"","method":"","position":"","script":"","translation":"","transliteration":"","type":"","note":"\"inside lid: sterling, maker TPER for Thomas Phipps and Edward Robinson\ninside side: sterling, maker\ninside body: maker, duty, sterling, date letter O (1809-10), leopard~Monogram on front in shield: SW  or IW\""}],"objectHistory":"Made in London by T. Phipps and E. Robinson (in partnership 1783-1816)","historicalContext":"","briefDescription":"Nutmeg grater, silver, made by E. Robinson and T. Phipps, London, 1809-10","bibliographicReferences":[],"production":"","productionType":{"text":"","id":""},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[],"contentConcepts":[],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[{"text":"British Galleries:\nThis portable nutmeg grater dates from a time when nutmeg was commonly used as a spice for all sorts of food and drink. The actual grater is inside the vase-shaped container. This valuable little trinket has been marked with the  initials fo the original owner, 'SW'.","date":{"text":"27/03/2003","earliest":"2003-03-27","latest":"2003-03-27"}}],"partNumbers":["M.930-1927","M.930PART-1927"],"accessionNumberNum":"930","accessionNumberPrefix":"M","accessionYear":1927,"otherNumbers":[],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE","Nutmeg Grater","Case"],"assets":["2019LN1755","2019LR2520","2019LR0981","2019LP3428","2019LP1582","2019LU2681"],"recordModificationDate":"2025-05-20","recordCreationDate":"2003-03-27","availableToBook":false}}