A very fine George IV Table Nutmeg Grater made in London in 1822 by John Reilly.
A very fine George IV Table Nutmeg Grater made in London in 1822 by John Reilly.
375238
This type of Nutmeg Grater would have been used on the dining table in the grand houses, rather than carried around in the pocket. The footman, or butler, would have grated nutmeg onto the recipients food, or into their drink, upon request. This piece has a semi circular form with gadrooned border, and an arched handle for hanging up, which is unusually decorated with a Rococo raying shell flanked by acanthus foliage. The top is engraved with a contemporary family Crest. The grater is in excellent condition and is fully marked inside the grater and with the maker's mark, sterling mark and date letter on the inside of the hinged cover to the section where the nutmeg would have been stored.
As you will appreciate, these graters do not appear often, however similar examples are contained within the Robert and Meredith Green Collection of silver Nutmeg Graters, now in the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation in the USA and illustrated in the catalogue of the collection. A similar example is also illustrated on page 67 of "Nutmeg Graters, Pomanders and Spice Boxes" by John Reckless.
Length: 10.5 inches, 26.25 cm
Width: 1.9 inches, 4.75 cm.
Height: 1.1 inches, 2.75 cm.
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