A very rare William & Mary Teardrop Nutmeg Grater made in London circ 1690 by Thomas Kedden.
A very rare William & Mary Teardrop Nutmeg Grater made in London circ 1690 by Thomas Kedden.
375177
As you will see from the attached images this very rare piece is finely modelled in the teardrop form, sometimes referred to as the heart. The cover is engraved in the naive tradition with a tulip shaped motif surrounded by a feather edge border. The sides display two horizontal linear bands and the base displays an engraved stylised Tudor Rose motif, also displaying an outer feather edge border. This very rare example is in excellent condition and displays protruding hinges at the rear for the top and bottom openings. The interior steel grater is in excellent condition and both the inside of the base and the cover is marked with TK for Thomas Kedden, a specialist box maker at this early date. One of the most famous Collections of Nutmeg Graters, in the World, is the Robert & Meredith Green Collection of Silver Nutmeg Graters which is now contained in the Colonial Williamsburg Collection, in the United States. We have attached an image from their catalogue which shows a near identical teardrop box. This form, by the same maker, is also illustrated in "Nutmeg Graters, pomanders and Spice Boxes" on page 44, Figures 16-19, a similar example also being in the collection of the Victoria & Albert Museum in London. Clearly marked with TK on the inside of the cover and the base.
Length: 1.65 inches, 4.13 cm.
Width: 1.25 inches, 3.13 cm.
Height: 1.1 inches, 2.75 cm.
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![](https://www.pinterest.com/pin/create/button/?url=https://marycooke.co.uk/british-silver-1649-1759/a-very-rare-william-mary-teardrop-nutmeg-grater-made-in-london-circ-1690-by-thomas-kedden&media=https://seek-unique-co.s3.amazonaws.com/marycooke-8876-Qfhef-OE67/stock/66c8b4c055192_image_url_cs89h.jpg&description=As you will see from the attached images this very rare piece is finely modelled in the teardrop form, sometimes referred to as the heart. The cover is engraved in the naive tradition with a tulip shaped motif surrounded by a feather edge border. The sides display two horizontal linear bands and the base displays an engraved stylised Tudor Rose motif, also displaying an outer feather edge border. This very rare example is in excellent condition and displays protruding hinges at the rear for the top and bottom openings. The interior steel grater is in excellent condition and both the inside of the base and the cover is marked with TK for Thomas Kedden, a specialist box maker at this early date. One of the most famous Collections of Nutmeg Graters, in the World, is the Robert & Meredith Green Collection of Silver Nutmeg Graters which is now contained in the Colonial Williamsburg Collection, in the United States. We have attached an image from their catalogue which shows a near identical teardrop box. This form, by the same maker, is also illustrated in "Nutmeg Graters, pomanders and Spice Boxes" on page 44, Figures 16-19, a similar example also being in the collection of the Victoria & Albert Museum in London. Clearly marked with TK on the inside of the cover and the base.Length: 1.65 inches, 4.13 cm.Width: 1.25 inches, 3.13 cm.Height: 1.1 inches, 2.75 cm. ){kind=link}