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What-is-it question CLXIV.

Posted: Sat Aug 29, 2009 4:48 pm
by 2209patrick
This item was produced by William Keyser Vanderslice of San Francisco, California.
He began working in San Francisco in 1858 and died in 1899.
The firm was sold to Shreve & Company in 1908 after the great San Francisco earthquake of 1906.

My estimate of the height is between 4 and 5 inches ( 10.16 and 12.7 cm.).
What was it used for ?

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Pat.
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Posted: Sun Aug 30, 2009 12:00 am
by JLDoggett
A pepper mill? Appears to be standing on ivory handles.
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Posted: Sun Aug 30, 2009 7:19 am
by 2209patrick
Well done Jim.

Yes, this is a pepper grinder.
The stand is turned with the piece inverted to allow the the pepper fall from the narrow end.

Here's a French example in silverplate:
Image

Pat.
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