Wednesday, February 1, 2017

When A Salt Spoon Just Doesn't Cut The Mustard

Chronica Domus
The unassuming entrance of The London Silver Vaults does not betray the dazzling Aladdin's cave that awaits within
Photo: Chronica Domus


I've been on the hunt for a silver Georgian mustard pot.  I've always fancied the idea of delivering a dollop of biting mustard to one's dinner plate from an elegant receptacle aided, of course, by a small spoon made expressly for the purpose of this pleasurable task.

I just knew I'd chance upon the perfect pot during my recent visit to England which, I'm chuffed to report, I did.  Well, actually, my eagle-eyed husband did, one afternoon while out and about with my sister Penelope and me in Hertfordshire.  He's very well trained in these matters and enjoys the hunt as much as I. The drum-shaped sterling pot is two inches tall and was made in England in 1821.  It has an 'S' handle embellished with a leaf design.  When the thumb piece is depressed, it raises the flat lid. Happily, the original Bristol blue glass liner remains intact.  It slips smoothly into the mustard pot and is designed to facilitate ease of cleaning (I would not recommend buying a pot without its liner as replacements rarely fit correctly).  A family crest is centrally engraved upon the lid and appears to be a large breed dog, possibly an Irish Wolfhound.  I am thrilled my husband found it (thank you, dear!).

Of course, every mustard pot deserves a spoon. As such, my thoughts turned to the American coin silver salt spoon I acquired last December, of which I wrote about here. My intention was to repurpose it for mustard.  Would it appear a tad overbearing in scale and decoration as compared to the diminutive pot I wondered?  Realizing rather quickly that it would simply not cut the mustard (sorry, I am British after all, and one does so enjoy a little punning every now and then), a visit to my favorite London silversmith, William Walter Antique Silver was soon on the cards.

Now, let me tell you, this is no ordinary shop.  It really is not a shop at all in the conventional sense. You see business is, in fact, conducted from Vault Number 3 and 5, located deep beneath the capital's pounding pavements inside The London Silver Vaults.

Chronica Domus
Moving past the security desk and down into the vaults we descend
Photo: Chronica Domus


For anyone interested in viewing or acquiring household silver objects of every imaginable function and size (I'm not kidding, there's even a silver bed down there!), The London Silver Vaults should be your first port of call.  Once downstairs, meandering the warren of shops at leisure is a singular experience. Not only are the wares dazzling in terms of appearance and sheer quantity, but wandering from one vault to another, through heavy iron doors, is nothing short of surreal.  It is as though one has been let loose within the deepest recesses of Fort Knox.

Photography is not permitted downstairs but I did find this image on-line showing some of the vault doors which are kept open during business hours


Now, getting back to the matter at hand, a spoon befitting my Georgian mustard pot. I had no doubt that John, who heads the team at William Walter, and with whom I've had the pleasure of purchasing several items of silver in the past, would be able to help.  I was not disappointed.  Laying down a flotilla of small spoons for my perusal - some used for salt, some for mustard, and others for goodness only knows what - I was spoilt for choice.  There were dozens of them!  John explained the large and varied stock of old silver at William Walter has been accumulated over a period of about sixty years.  This provides his lucky patrons with a broad selection of whatever it is they are seeking to purchase.

I believe the little mustard spoon I selected (whose elongated bowl sets it apart from those of rounded salt spoons) is perfectly scaled for use with my mustard pot.  And, it sits comfortably within the lid's slot. It is also period appropriate having been made in 1813 by Richard Stevens of Dublin, Ireland.  It too possesses a family crest, a bull.

Chronica Domus
I could not be more delighted to marry the Irish Georgian mustard spoon to the English Georgian mustard pot, a match made in heaven!
Photo: Chronica Domus

Chronica Domus
Another view of the mustard pot, its original Bristol blue glass liner, and the Irish Georgian mustard spoon
Photo: Chronica Domus


John not only has an extensive knowledge of old silver - to describe him as encyclopedic is not an exaggeration in the least - but he also has a true passion for the subject.  This is evident to anyone chatting to him for even a few minutes.  When doing so, be fully prepared to be dazzled by a silver oddity or two, followed immediately with an amusing tidbit about its history.  John's stories are always enthusiastically relayed for his fortunate audience's edification.

When I inquired about viewing, and subsequently purchasing, a sherry bottle ticket from his stash, John asked me what I thought was so unusual about the item.  Not surprisingly, I was stumped. He explained that the original black wax which fills the indentations of the letters S-H-E-R-R-Y remains intact, something not often seen after a few centuries of use.  Oh dear, I thought to myself, before making an alarming confession. I had tried in vein to remove what I thought was tarnish from the reeded decoration of a port bottle ticket I have at home... oops!

Chronica Domus
Lessons Learned: John tells me that the original black wax on the lettering of my Sherry bottle ticket, made by Charles Rawlings of London in 1828, is still intact unlike the wax from the reeded decoration around my Port label which I've foolishly attempted to remove believing it to be tarnish
Photo: Chronica Domus


Chronica Domus
This photograph, which John kindly allowed me to take on a previous visit, shows just a drop in the bucket of the goodies available for purchase at William Walter Antique Silver 
Photo: Chronica Domus


I do hope you make time to drop into The London Silver Vaults and visit John at William Walter Antique Silver when next in town.  I promise your efforts will be rewarded with a unique shopping (or browsing) experience.  There is, of course, no obligation to buy.  However, if you are inclined to enjoy shiny and beautiful objects, you'll find it very easy to empty the coffers, and happily so.

Chronica Domus
Now that I've secured the perfect mustard spoon for my pot, the only decision remaining is which of the trio of mustards will fill the Bristol blue glass liner next*
Photo: Chronica Domus


Nota bene: I am neither paid nor do I receive recompense in exchange for applauding products or services within my blog.  I do so because I enjoy them.  If you are a kindred spirit, you too enjoy recommending nice things to fellow good eggs.


*For those interested, the walnut Dijon mustard won this round

22 comments:

  1. Oh my goodness!! What a treasure trove. Thank you for posting about this! I will forward your post on to my Mother in Law, who loves silver and would most definitely enjoy visiting the silver vaults next time she's in London.
    the little spoon and mustard pot are beautiful. There is nothing like using something beautiful in your everyday life. Function plus form are married perfectly in these items. x

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    1. Hello Heidi,

      Yes, a treasure trove indeed, and one that I'd urge your Mother In Law to visit on her next trip to London for I am sure she'll find herself as dazzled as I am upon each of my visits there. Oh, and how right you are. Beautiful objects should be used as often as possible, preferably on a daily basis.

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  2. Your post reminded me that a return visit to the Silver Vaults is long overdue. My one and only visit was back in 1985. The NY Times had recently published an article about the Vaults' storied history. Coincidentally, I was on a mission to buy two wedding gifts for a soon to be sister in Law and a good friend who asked me to be her maid of honor. I found a set of Victorian demitasse spoons (in their original box) and a serving spoon which I gleefully hand carried back with me to the States. Discovering that both items were exempt from Customs duties because they were over 100 years old, (the vault vendors provided me documentation with the bill of sale) was an added bonus. I have since purchased old silver at various antique store stateside and on EBay but treasure hunting in the Silver Vaults was much more fun.
    Enjoy your mustard pot. With Easter not too far off, you might serve a ham.
    Best,
    KL Gaylin

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    1. Hello KL Gaylin,

      Although on this occasion I was purchasing for myself, the London Silver Vaults are an excellent place to find the perfect gift for a wedding, christening, birthday or just about any other special occasion. Oh, and they ship too (at least WWAS does!). You really can't beat old silver for quality and value. It is often less expensive than buying new, and to my eye, often more beautiful as it has mellowed with age and use.

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  3. What charming new additions to the family, and what a captivating tale of their acquisition and adoption. I feel as if I've been privy to a shopping trip for crown jewels, with all the histoire de provenance and flair of the chase.

    Girl, you DO beat all---for such lovely adventures, such beautiful photographs, and such a way of drawing in a reader to having been on the hunt and wander betwixt those enchanted aisles of exquisite shine.

    Glorious tale. I'm quite the plebeian Plochman's girl, but still.

    r

    ps may I invite you to glance in sometime to a little site that Sis has encouraged and finally persuaded me to allow her to place on her Facebook. A little Southern town sprung from my imagination and reminiscence of folks I've known or wish I had, or composites of several. They don't do much, as I cannot summon a plot-line into my silly head, but they're full-sprung as people I'd like to share. With some folks, just the being is enough sometimes.

    http://paxtonpeople.blogspot.com/

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    1. Hello racheld,

      So pleased you enjoyed the trip to the London Silver Vaults alongside me, which is part of the enjoyment of writing this blog. Taking my readers along to obscure places that they might otherwise miss seeing is a pleasure.

      I look forward to reading more of your delightful scribbles at your new blogspot, which I am certain, will be as enchanting at your posts on Lawntea.

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  4. I have a couple of mustard pots but none as elegant as yours! We love mustard here at our house, especially whole grain dijon. Actually, we use the dijon, made in France, that is sold at Trader Joe's. My French cooking teacher tells me that there is no difference in quality between that brand and the one that she sometimes orders online from France (I have forgotten the brand name). Thank you also for the interesting note about the black wax. Now I have been forewarned!

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    1. Hello slf,

      Whole grain Dijon mustard is a favorite in our household too and now you've enlightened me about TJ's offering, I shall be on the lookout for it, thank you.

      Wasn't the black wax information fascinating? John is a fountain of knowledge on the subject of silver and I can listen to him waxing lyrical for hours. He is thoroughly entertainng when doing so too.

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  5. What a fun place to shop. Your mustard pot and spoon is wonderful.
    Karen

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    1. Thank you, Karen. So pleased you liked the pot and spoon as much as I.

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  6. Hello CD, Quite an impressive place to shop for silver--was it built for that or another purpose? I am glad you found such an appropriately matched pot and spoon. That leaves your American salt spoon out in the cold, but I am sure that you will find plenty of use for it.

    Your story about the bottle tags reminds me of how the people who first dug up ancient marble statues, which typically had been painted, would usually strip them of all original paint remnants to reveal the gleaming white underneath.
    --Jim

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    1. Hello Jim,

      The vaults were opened in 1876 under the name The Chancery Lane Safety Deposit. The strong rooms were rented out to wealthy clients who housed their valuable documents, household silver, and jewelry. The building above the vaults was destroyed during the bombing raids of WWII and rebuilt ten years later (the vaults, by the way, sustained no damage). It was at that time the vaults began to attract local silversmiths who felt their goods were safer stored (and sold) underground, hence today's vaults are all rented to silversmiths. I believe The London Silver Vaults it the world's largest repository of silver. You must visit the next time you are in London for I am certain you'll be as fascinated at wandering the corridors as I am.

      About that coin silver spoon, I have no doubt that it will make an appearance at this year's Thanksging table, dishing out something or other. It's design is too beautiful to leave in the silver drawer.

      Enjoyed your story about the marble statues. I remember seeing the Terra cotta Army when it came to SF and recall some paint was found on several of the statues but, thankfully, that was not removed.

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  7. What a beautiful mustard pot and spoon. Your attention to detail thrills me to bits, I love that you went on a search for the perfect mustard spoon.
    We're meant to visit London in 2018 and I think buying some silver for our dining room should be on the top of our shopping list! Thank you for the information, and the inspiration as ever. xx

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    1. Hello Dani BP, and thank you. Glad you too liked the mustard pot and spoon. I'm thrilled to have them here at home where we've enjoyed using them.

      Do please make a point of visiting the LSV next year. I've purchased all sorts of goodies for our dining room from there (WWSA specifically), and they ship too. You can even specify the date of delivery to coincide with your return to insure you are at home to receive your goodies when they sow up.

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  8. GSL has yet to make an unassuming entrance but found this subterranean vaulted excursion charming and informative with its spoon flotillas and Anglo-Irish Mustard tooling. An endorsement from CD carries more weight with GSL than any Royal Warrant could ever hope to.

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    1. Hello GSL,

      Hmmm... yes, I can just imagine a new type of warrant... By CDian Appointment.

      I think you'll thoroughly enjoy meandering the corridors of The London Silver Vaults. Perhaps you'll find a trinket or two to take back home with you too. Cufflinks or a whisky flask for sure!

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  9. I agree with slf that Trader Joe's Dijon is pretty good stuff. That said I'm guessing the Edmond Fallot brand is tasty too, though I've never tried it.

    What a lovely mustard pot you acquired. Thanks for photoing it next to mustard jars for scale.

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    1. Hello Diogenes,

      Well then, I really do need to get myself down to a TJ's and stock up on their Dijon per your glowing endorsement, thank you.

      I enjoy EF mustards for both the traditional Dijon-style mustard (the old-fashioned seed Dijon is very good!) and also for their flavored varieties which add a little surprise to the palate. The mesquite and stout ale mustard from Dean & Deluca is another favorite in our household.

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  10. Oh, what treasures! Thank you for sharing them with us.

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    1. Hello Jen Lawrence,

      Yes, I agree, treasures they are and made to be used, and used they shall be! Glad you enjoyed viewing them.

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  11. Can't imagine how I haven't seen this post before now, and I am glad I spotted it... i have a mustard pot that was in a lot of silver at auction, but wasn't sure what it was. Now i know! Thanks!

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    1. Hello Meg,

      So glad this post helped you identify your mystery silver object. All you need to do now is give it a good polish, and fill it with your mustard of choice. Pass the mustard, please!

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Please do leave a comment as I enjoy the dialogue with my readership, thank you.

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