posted 04-21-2009 10:36 AM            

Hello,

I recently purchased an 1860's coin silver pitcher identified as a creamer by the seller; however, I'm not convinced of its original function. There is a plate inside the lip as one would see on a water pitcher to keep ice from splashing into the glasses. The pitcher measures 5 inches to the lip and 6 inches to the top of the ram's head. Can someone explain?

Thank you very much!

posted 04-21-2009 01:43 PM            

I give up trying to explain - perhabs you understand the meaning anyhow.

Those ?? was picked up by the creamer. instead of comming into the cofee or tea.

posted 04-21-2009 01:49 PM            

Just saw the other reply. Cream is the milk fat which rises to the top of milk. When I was a young twerpy kid we had milk delivered to the house as did everyone else. The milkman had a horse drawn wagon and the milk was in bottles. At some point they went to a vehicle. I would not talk to the milkman for several months as 'they' had done away with my horsey. My parents poured off the top two inches to use in their coffee or to make whipped cream or whatever else. At that time milk was Pasteurized (heated to kill off bacteria). A bit later Homogenized milk came into being and that method, milk was forced through very small tubes that reduced the size of the fat globules to help keep the fat in suspension with the milk, prevented the separation of milk and milk fat so they made extra profit if you wanted cream. There was a device called a 'cream separator'.

posted 04-22-2009 12:24 AM            

The plate in the spout makes the cream pitcher look classier, and shows that the maker wanted a better performing product. I would bet that this pitcher cost more when new also.