We just had to close on a house by proxy for our daughter, and I enjoyed offering sugar to our closer using a vessel like this one. Originally used for mustards during the 1930s and 1940s, I like to re-purpose pieces like these to serve not only condiments, but jams, sauces, flowers, and yes, even sugar cubes. If using it for sugar cubes, I'd hang a small sugar tongs from it like NBJ847. The small ladles pictured are sold separately elsewhere on my site. I hoped that including them would give you a sense of proportion.
Pieces like these were not chemically etched, as we might buy today. Rather, a craftsman sat at a grinding wheel rotating the glass with deft hands to tip it ever so closely to the wheel to get just the right carving on the glass. No two pieces are exactly alike, and no design exactly replicated. Lovely.
I've learned that photographing etched glass can be as challenging as getting an image of jewelry!
SOLD: Vessel 1: This sweet condiment or sugar jar has a hand-engraved series of flowers interlaced with vines. This is the most detailed of the pieces, as the carving is widespread, and there is detail on the rim, as well.
The details: 3.5 inches tall x 3 inches wide; no chips; no scratches
The lid: sterling silver, weighs 11 grams; no dings,no dents
Total weight: 312 grams
Markings: Sterling, along with the Webster trademark of a feathered arrow drawn through a W.
Vessel 2: This is the tallest of these sweet jars; the design is also wheel-etched, featuring vines and flowers. The maker is also Webster, a revered silversmith.
The details: 4 inches tall x 2.5 inches wide; no chips; no scratches
The lid: sterling silver, weighs 13 grams; there are two very small bends to the edge of the lid, not readily noticeable, and a couple of very tiny dings to the outer rim, again, nothing dramatic.
Total weight: 162 grams
Markings: Sterling, along with the classic Webster trademark.
Vessel 3: This darling smallest mustard jar was made by the Empire company. It features beautifully hand-engraved leaves on a single vine and a solid sterling silver top.
The details: 2.5 inches tall x 2.25 inches wide; no chips; no scratches
The lid: sterling silver, weighs 8 grams; no dings, dents.
Total weight: 103 grams
Markings: Empire Sterling
SOLD: Vessel 4: A second small mustard jar just acquired. This, also wheel etched with grapes and vines, was made by the Dunkirk Silversmiths, Inc from Meriden, CT, who conducted business between 1945-1950.
The details: 2.25 inches tall x 2 inches wide; no chips; no scratches
The lid: sterling silver, weighs 6 grams; no dings, dents.
Total weight: 90 grams
Markings: Dunkirk marks, Sterling, 488
Since the lids are solid silver, you don't have to worry about the durability of the finish. A simple polish removes any accumulating tarnish. (I prefer Hagerty Silversmith's wash with a tarnish preventative. Avoid using silver dips; they'll remove the lovely patina that gathers in the crevices to enhance the detail of these pieces.)
Commensurate with age, the condition of each of these pieces is excellent.
See our entire collection of elegant tableware here:
https://notbeforejava.patternbyetsy.com/shop/18216439/tableware-and-linens