An extremely rare George III Nutmeg Grater made in Birmingham in 1802, almost certainly by Cocks & Bettridge.

An extremely rare George III Nutmeg Grater made in Birmingham in 1802, almost certainly by Cocks & Bettridge.

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374570

The piece we refer to is one of the very rare nutmeg grater designs which is modelled as a Neo Classical Urn.  This example was made in 1802, almost certainly in Birmingham by Cocks & Bettridge.  As you will see from the images, the Nutmeg Grater stands on a circular pedestal foot which rises to an urn shaped body engraved with foliate garlands and wriggle work bands.  The pull off cover opens up to reveal the interior, where the nutmeg would have been stored.  This is also engraved with cascading foliate motifs and displays a domed central section.  The base has a cover which pulls off to reveal the steel grater.  The base cover is engraved with wriggle work bands and the contemporary script initials "EL".  These pieces are nearly always made by Cocks & Bettridge in Birmingham in 1802, however very few examples were made and this is only the second we have offered over all of the years.  This piece is marked on the base with the Birmingham date letter "e" for 1802 and the King's Head Duty Mark.  As we have emphasised these are very scarce and because of this fact an 1802 example is illustrated in "Investing in Silver" by Eric Delieb and also a similar example is given its own page in the catalogue of the Robert & Meredith Green Collection of "Silver Nutmeg Graters".  Both extracts are attached.

Height: 1.5 inches, 3.75 cm.

Base Diameter: 0.9 inches, 2.25 cm.

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