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 nutmeg scrapers
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| Author | Topic: nutmeg scrapers |
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middletom Posts: 467 |
posted 01-30-2006 09:25 PM
  
I would like to put out an inquiry. My niece, Rachael, is an 18th century reenactor. She recently asked me if I could make a silver nutmeg scraper for her. Apparently, such things were commonly carried around the neck by women of the 18th century and many styles were available. She has requested a heart shaped one from me, so I would like to ask if anyone at this forum might have access to pictures of sample heart-shaped nutmeg scrapers, that could be posted to this site for me to download. I hope someone can help with this search. Thank you all. IP: Logged |
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Richard Kurtzman Moderator Posts: 768 |
posted 01-30-2006 09:40 PM
Here are a few nutmeg graters from The Robert and Meredith Green Collection. IP: Logged |
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ahwt Posts: 2334 |
posted 01-30-2006 10:39 PM
I know of two books covering nutmeg graters:
They may be available in your library. IP: Logged |
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agleopar Posts: 850 |
posted 01-31-2006 08:33 AM
Hi Tom, and when your done can we see the finished box? IP: Logged |
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FredZ Posts: 1070 |
posted 01-31-2006 09:28 AM
It will be an interesting chalenge to see how you will secure the thin sheet iron grater to the sterling container. I think they were wedged or bezeled in. I have thought about making a nutmeg grater and have decided I would use a tinned can as stock for making the grater. A tapered pointed square punch could be used to make the openings in the thin iron. I too would love to see the finished piece! Fred IP: Logged |
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Silver Lyon Posts: 363 |
posted 02-01-2006 08:31 AM
What is your niece's source for the information in which ladies are described as having nutmeg scrapers hung around their necks? Most interested to see what else it contains...  IP: Logged |
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FredZ Posts: 1070 |
posted 02-01-2006 11:38 AM
Perhaps she was refering to the pomanders used to freshen the day's scent? Maybe even patch boxes to beautify the skin. Fred IP: Logged |
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swarter Moderator Posts: 2920 |
posted 02-01-2006 12:48 PM
Or perhaps a vinaigrette (as distinguished from the earlier pomander), which, while often carried elsewhere, was sometimes worn as a locket? Vinaigrettes had an inner perforated partition to retain the scented sponge, and could be confused with nutmeg graters. IP: Logged |
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FredZ Posts: 1070 |
posted 02-01-2006 03:04 PM
Swarter, I have not seen many, if any, American Vinaigrettes. Are you aware of any signed American examples? Fred IP: Logged |
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middletom Posts: 467 |
posted 02-01-2006 06:15 PM
Thank you for the assistance with pictures and book references. I may be wrong about the graters(thanks for the correct word-I couldn't remember it-brain fade from old age) being hung around the neck, perhaps they were pinned to the clothing. She has researched this very well and has narrowed it down to the types from a particular decade. Fred, I'm not sure at this point how I will attach the grater surface to the body of the work, but will figure it out in time. When I've completed this project, I'll send along pictures, provided it comes out well. This is actually more intimidating than the communion set I made. Oh, and this is definitely a nutmeg grater that my niece is talking about, for she described it well to me. Apparently she has seen others worn by other reenactors. IP: Logged |
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swarter Moderator Posts: 2920 |
posted 02-01-2006 07:22 PM
Fred. According to Fales, vaigrettes have been found in the accounts of American silversmiths, but none has yet been identified. IP: Logged |
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Silver Lyon Posts: 363 |
posted 02-02-2006 05:29 AM
 Reanactors are a great thing. They help children understand some of the past and give any historical site a sort of atmosphere. They are not however, unlike your niece, always good historians!I suggest that if your niece REALLY (sorry for the capitals, Scott) wants to do a good job that she wears a pomander as discussed above. These had a two fold task for ladies (and it must be quite a grand lady if she has spare cash for silver trinkets!). The first was strictly practical, to cover up the smell of the person wearing the pomander as well as diluting the, not so nice, smells of the street. The second was that many people believed their contents to ward off sickness. Nutmeg graters, as a whole, are MALE things as nutmeg was an essential ingredient for punch. Before the c.19th men had all the fun with little silver trinkets; apart from sewing (and pomanders until they went out of fashion c.1720) the poor gals didn't really get a look in. If you need further evidence, look at all the pictures of nutmeg graters - NOWHERE can I find ANY with a suspension ring! Please take this as constructive comment - I am just trying to help with the accuracy! IP: Logged |
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Scott Martin Forum Master Posts: 11520 |
posted 02-02-2006 10:21 AM
I REALLY (sorry for the capitals, Silver Lyon  ) believe Silver Lyon is correct.IP: Logged |
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middletom Posts: 467 |
posted 02-06-2006 03:19 PM
Silver Lyon, I thank you for the further information about graters and pomanders. I will run all this by my niece and see what she has to say, then I will get back to one and all. IP: Logged |
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middletom Posts: 467 |
posted 02-12-2006 03:09 PM
Silver Lyon, I've heard from my niece and she says that she has found two or three references from the early 19th century to "old ladies" having nutmeg graters in their pockets. From that she has assumed that a young lady in the mid-18th or later might well have carried nutmeg graters, figuring that they would not have started that practice after becoming old. She asked me to ask you what your resources are for saying that women would be unlikely to carry nutmeg graters. If you could let me know, I'll pass the information on to her. Thanks very much. IP: Logged |
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FWG Posts: 845 |
posted 02-12-2006 04:02 PM
I can't cite a specific source right off, but I'm with Silver Lyon -- I've always seen nutmeg graters referred to as male accessories. And I agree with his note as to not being able to think of a single example with a suspension ring. As to the patterns of an old woman being set in youth, speaking as an anthropologist, it is common in most cultures for elderly women to be freed of certain restrictions placed on younger women -- which in practice means they tend to act more 'like men'. This may be culturally described as eccentricity or as 'normal' behavior, but it is widespread in practice. I would thus turn your niece's assumption on its head, and fully expect older women to do things that they never would've done when they were younger, and that would normally be perceived as 'unwomanly' or 'male'. And Silver Lyon is also correct (as usual) concerning pomanders (or vinaigrettes, the term I hear used more often around here) and their use. I can't remember the details, but a movie (period film) I saw within the last year or so showed a woman in the street reaching for and inhaling from her vinaigrette to mask the smell -- I remember it solely because I thought it was a good piece of action to capture that detail. IP: Logged |
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middletom Posts: 467 |
posted 02-13-2006 05:28 PM
FWG- The matter of a suspension ring may have been my introduction, not my niece's, as I guess I was assuming that something small and silver would not have been left to rattle around in a pocket. I'll pass on to her your assessment from the anthropological point of view; I know she is still doing more investigations on the matter, so we may get it pinned down soon. IP: Logged |
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swarter Moderator Posts: 2920 |
posted 03-28-2006 04:50 PM
This newly posted article on vinaigrettes may be of interest. [This message has been edited by swarter (edited 03-28-2006).] IP: Logged |
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