{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O92129"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O92129/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2006AK4940/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2006AK4940/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"high","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2006AK4940","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":{"_iiif_pres":"https://iiif.vam.ac.uk/collections/O92129/manifest.json","_alt_iiif_pres":[]}},"record":{"systemNumber":"O92129","accessionNumber":"M.170-1939","objectType":"Caster","titles":[],"summaryDescription":"A caster is a small container with a pierced cover and is used for sprinkling sugar, salt, ground pepper and spices or dry mustard powder over food.  They were a popular item of tableware in both silver and Sheffield plate and brass.\r\n\r\nAn object as finely executed as this was probably originally silvered.  Cast brass with a silvered surface was a relatively common silver substitute until the Sheffield plate industry was established in England in the mid 18th century.  The discovery by Thomas Boulsover in 1743 that copper and silver fused under heat provided a cheaper and more versatile alternative.","physicalDescription":"Cylindrical, with moulded foot; engraved with a coat of arms. The domed cover which fits on with a bayonet joint is pierced with floral ornament and is surmounted by a rosette with moulded knob.","artistMakerPerson":[{"name":{"text":"Unknown","id":"A1848"},"association":{"text":"","id":""},"note":""}],"artistMakerOrganisations":[],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[{"text":"brass","id":"AAT10946"},{"text":"silver","id":"AAT11029"}],"techniques":[{"text":"pierced","id":"AAT231153"}],"materialsAndTechniques":"Brass, with traces of silvering","categories":[{"text":"Metalwork","id":"THES48920"}],"styles":[],"collectionCode":{"text":"MET","id":"THES48599"},"images":["2006AK4940"],"imageResolution":"high","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"005","id":"THES412416"},"free":"","case":"","shelf":"","box":""}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"Caster","id":""}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[{"place":{"text":"France","id":"x28849"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"productionDates":[{"date":{"text":"late 17th century-early 18th century","earliest":"1650-01-01","latest":"1750-12-31"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"associatedObjects":[],"creditLine":"Bequeathed by Miss Ethel Gurney","dimensions":[{"dimension":"Height","value":"7.875","unit":"in","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""},{"dimension":"Diameter","value":"3.25","unit":"in","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""}],"dimensionsNote":"","marksAndInscriptions":[],"objectHistory":"","historicalContext":"","briefDescription":"Caster, brass with traces of silvering, pierced with floral ornament and surmounted by a rosette with moulded knob, French, late 17th to early 18th century","bibliographicReferences":[],"production":"","productionType":{"text":"","id":""},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[{"text":"floral patterns","id":"AAT10135"},{"text":"rosette","id":"AAT9972"},{"text":"coats of arms","id":"AAT126352"}],"contentConcepts":[],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[],"partNumbers":["M.170-1939"],"accessionNumberNum":"170","accessionNumberPrefix":"M","accessionYear":1939,"otherNumbers":[],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE"],"assets":[],"recordModificationDate":"2025-12-12","recordCreationDate":"2004-02-09","availableToBook":true}}