An important Cast "Honey Skep" Nutmeg Grater made in Birmingham in 1866/67 by Elkington & Company.
An important Cast "Honey Skep" Nutmeg Grater made in Birmingham in 1866/67 by Elkington & Company.
375668
This very rare example is cast and finely modelled in the form of a dome shaped Skep, or Beehive, with separate straw coils bound with strips of briar or wild rose. An engraved loop covers the apex and can be used as a suspensory ring. The base of the main body also displays a little arched door for the bees to enter, such is its detailed design and the flat plain base is detachable, so that the Nutmeg can be stored inside. The top section also unscrews to reveal the fixed steel grater. This piece is in exceptional condition and is fully marked on the base and with the sterling mark on the cover. Being cast, the Nutmeg Grater is of a very good gauge and weight.
Elkington and Company made cast electroplated Nutmeg Graters in this design and four are known from 1867. This is the only silver example known to date and we can conclude that it may well have been a special commission, the customer wanting a sterling silver Beehive Nutmeg Grater, not wishing to carry an electroplate piece. It certainly has to be one of the rarest designs of nutmeg grater to be produced.
The Electroplated types are discussed on page 205 of " Nutmeg Graters, Pomanders and Spice Boxes " by John Reckless and a further plated example is shown in the catalogue of the Robert & Meredith Green Collection of Nutmeg Graters.
Height: 2 inches, 5 cm.
Diameter, at its widest point, 1.55 inches, 3.88 cm.
Weight: 3.1 oz.
RELATED ITEMS
![](https://www.pinterest.com/pin/create/button/?url=https://www.marycooke.co.uk/british-silver-1760-1830/an-important-cast-honey-skep-nutmeg-grater-made-in-birmingham-in-186667-by-elkington-company&media=https://seek-unique-co.s3.amazonaws.com/marycooke-8876-Qfhef-OE67/stock/69f728bf69f7a_image_url_lw35a.JPG&description=This very rare example is cast and finely modelled in the form of a dome shaped Skep, or Beehive, with separate straw coils bound with strips of briar or wild rose. An engraved loop covers the apex and can be used as a suspensory ring. The base of the main body also displays a little arched door for the bees to enter, such is its detailed design and the flat plain base is detachable, so that the Nutmeg can be stored inside. The top section also unscrews to reveal the fixed steel grater. This piece is in exceptional condition and is fully marked on the base and with the sterling mark on the cover. Being cast, the Nutmeg Grater is of a very good gauge and weight. Elkington and Company made cast electroplated Nutmeg Graters in this design and four are known from 1867. This is the only silver example known to date and we can conclude that it may well have been a special commission, the customer wanting a sterling silver Beehive Nutmeg Grater, not wishing to carry an electroplate piece. It certainly has to be one of the rarest designs of nutmeg grater to be produced.The Electroplated types are discussed on page 205 of " Nutmeg Graters, Pomanders and Spice Boxes " by John Reckless and a further plated example is shown in the catalogue of the Robert & Meredith Green Collection of Nutmeg Graters. Height: 2 inches, 5 cm.Diameter, at its widest point, 1.55 inches, 3.88 cm.Weight: 3.1 oz. ){kind=link}