Antique Victorian Pickle Castor, American Silver Plate Co, Circa 1890s, Scenic Glass Windmill & Houses, Silverplate Stand

This late Victorian pickle castor has survived more than a century with its wonderfully detailed scenic glass insert, ornate silver-plated stand and fitted lid still together. The clear glass insert is especially interesting.

Three large oval panels surround the jar, each containing a different detailed landscape scene. One features a windmill among trees and buildings, while the others depict substantial country houses or manor-like buildings surrounded by wooded landscapes. Elaborate pressed decoration fills the areas between the scenes, with a diamond pattern encircling the lower portion of the jar.

The ornate metal stand is silver plate with brass-colored side supports. Floral and scrolling decoration appears around the base of the glass holder and again at the top of the tall handle. A small side hook would originally have held the pickle tongs or serving fork, which is no longer present.

The fitted silver-plated lid has a pierced floral design and decorative finial.

The stand is marked American Silver Plate Co., Triple, along with the number 186.

Measurements:
11 inches high from bottom of stand to top of handle
7½ inches from bottom of glass insert to top of silver cover
Glass insert – 4½ inches high
Glass insert – 3¼ inches in diameter

Condition
This antique pickle castor has survived with considerable age and use-related wear, and we have taken detailed photos showing these conditions.
Glass Insert:
The glass insert has an approximately ¾-inch chip along the upper rim. The chipped area is rough but is not presently sharp. One scenic panel has a glass bruise, visible as an opaque white area within the glass.
Stand:
The silver-plated stand is somewhat bent and out of shape. A decorative element is missing from the lower back of the stand, and there is substantial wear to the plating around the underside and maker's mark.
Lid:
The silver-plated lid is no longer completely round, and its finial is bent.
Tongs:
The original pickle tongs or serving fork are not present.
Despite these flaws, the castor remains remarkably attractive when displayed. Two of the scenic panels remain free of the glass bruise, and the intact floral decoration on the stand can be positioned toward the front. The lid rests on the glass insert but should be handled and positioned gently rather than forced into place.

Because of the age and condition of this piece, we recommend it for decorative display or collection only and not for food service.

For someone who appreciates Victorian tableware and objects that have survived despite their imperfections, this is a beautiful old piece with tremendous character.

History
During the late 19th century, the pickle castor became one of the more elaborate accessories found on a well-appointed Victorian dining table. The glass jars were made in an extraordinary variety of forms—including pressed, cut, etched, frosted and colored glass—and were held in decorative metal frames, commonly silver plate. They weren't merely containers hidden away in the kitchen. Pickled vegetables and fruits were brought to the table in these decorative castors, with a small fork or pair of tongs provided for serving. Their combination of usefulness and elaborate decoration suited the Victorian dining table particularly well. Pickle castors were especially fashionable by about 1890, but their popularity declined around the turn of the 20th century.
The stand on this example bears the mark American Silver Plate Co. Period documentation identifies American Silver Plate Co. as a division of Simpson, Hall, Miller & Co. of Wallingford, Connecticut, an important American silver manufacturer that became part of International Silver Company in 1898.

Based upon the maker, form and style, we date this pickle castor to the late Victorian period, circa 1890s.

The manufacturer of the scenic glass insert has not been identified. Its three detailed landscape panels—including a windmill and country-house scenes—make the glass itself one of the most appealing features of the piece.

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