Pickle Castor Sets

The Victorian dining table was a sight to behold. The upper and middle classes of that era practiced elaborate eating customs that required a utensil for every function and a container for every food. The table would be replete with such pieces as napkin rings, celery dishes, individual salts, lidded mustards, castor sets for oil, vinegar and other condiments, tilting water pitchers, braziers, cinnamon shakers and, for a brief period, pickle castors. The latter appeared in the late 19th century, became a dining staple at more formal occasions, and then virtually disappeared from merchandise catalogs by 1910. How and why this happened is not entirely clear. Like the dinosaur, it became extinct, but not forgotten.

In the 18th century, pickle or sweetmeat stands graced aristocratic table-settings. Made of porcelain, they could be intricate works of art featuring cherubs and goats frolicking beneath the dish. The pickle castor so popular in 1900 was a more modest affair. The serving piece consisted of a portable metal holder that cradled a removable insert made of clear pressed pattern glass or more expensive colored glass. Tall handles went up to an arch above the jar. Occasionally, the lid would be made of sterling, but the base was typically silver-plated Britannia metal. An accompanying fork or tongs meant you never had to use your hands to fish out a stubborn pickle. At a cost of one to three dollars at Sears and Roebuck, they were an affordable extravagance.

This was the most ornate and expressive period of Victorian style -- complicated, detailed, and accented with figurals. Despite its elaborate nature, it was a sentimental, folksy statement. Collectors look for embellished holders and enticing glass, especially examples that are colored and decorated, or have desirable patterns.

Since the apparatus contains four separate pieces -- frame, glass insert, lid, and tongs -- it is vulnerable to missing or replaced parts. Examine a pickle castor carefully to check if the glass fits correctly into the container and the lid fits snugly on top of the glass. Are the tongs and finial compatible with the holder? A pickle castor that appears perfect may not be totally original, but only an expert could tell. Mixing and matching of parts does not always mean a reduction in value.