It’s #whatsitwednesday!
Be the first to guess what the pictured item is by leaving a comment below. If you have your own whatsit, our editors may include it in a future post. Please send an email to editor@kovels.com and attach a clear picture, the size and any markings. Hopefully, we will be able to identify it for our readers!
Approximately 3 1/2 inches by 1 1/2 inches.
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Photo: Hannam’s Auctioneers Ltd.
16 responses to “It’s #whatsitwednesday!”
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Answer from Kovels: This is a Victorian silver hanging scent holder with a rough exterior.
I looks like a nutmeg grater; however, it doesn’t seem to have a top opening. The nutmeg is usually stored inside. If there is an opening on the backside it could have been used as a candle holder/diffuser to scatter light about the room.
It appears to be a silver nutmeg grater, nutmeg being one of those spices favored by the wealthy of Victorian times, in that it was grated over the top of their cups of eggnog at Christmas time, or maybe it is a safe-cracking tool used to soften up the tips of the safe-cracking yegg’s fingers so he could better feel the movement of the tumblers in the safe’s lock mechanism.
There are no hinges visible so it doesn’t open. It isn’t decorated so it isn’t for display. It has a handle but it is only 3 1/2 inches. Easy to carry. Probably light weight, at that size. An old fashioned grater of some kind sounds logical. I don’t cook so I learned something new! Thanks guys.
I think I’d call it a Vegetable or Cabbage Shredder. But it’s hard to tell by the looks of it here.
It’s a grater for spices and other edibles. Perhaps even for finely grating hard cheeses, but it’s definitely a grater.
George III silver table nutmeg grater by John Reily London 1801
I’m going with a grater for spices such as nut and cinnamon
Yes, nutmeg grater.
It is a candle lantern, that can be hung on a wall
Old Vintage Tin Nutmeg Grater
Nutmeg grater?
Whatsitwednesday is a nutmeg grater. Nutmeg is a spice from a nutmeg tree and the seeds are grated in this small grater. The top lifts off to hold the nutmeg seed until it is used up.
Nutmeg grater
It’s a nutmeg rasp, the nut itself can be stored inside the container.
Grater used for nutmeg, ginger or other spices. Also could be used for garlic or onion.