Novelty mustard pot – £6500 at Lyon & Turnbull.
This example pictured here formed as a chimpanzee in Oriental clothing (with a spoon providing a plume to the hat) is assayed for London 1867 and the partnership of George Richards and Edward Brown.
It would originally have been accompanied by two other condiment pieces. A complete cruet of this rare and desirable type forms part of the archival collection of mustard manufacturer Colman’s in Norwich, while another took £21,000 at Bonhams in 2008.
Nineteenth and early 20th century novelty silver continues to be one of the strengths of the collecting category. This mustard pot came for sale at Lyon & Turnbull (26/25/20% buyer’s premium) in Edinburgh on September 13 with a guide of £5000-8000 and took £6500.
