Department: Decorative Art

What is this object? This is a pair of casters or muffineers, made in Cutch, Bombay, in the late 1800s. How did they come to be in Sheffield? This cup, along with several other artefacts, was purchased at the Colonial and Indian Exhibition of 1886. With assistance from the South Kensington Museum (now the V&A), Sheffield Museum was able to acquire a number of pieces to illustrate the finest metalworking from India. These muffineers were made in India whilst under British rule. They were probably made for the exhibition as an example piece. What is a muffineer? A muffineer is a type of caster used to sprinkle a mix of spices and sugar onto a dessert to sweeten the taste. They were fairly common in England during this period, and many were manufactured in Sheffield products such as Old Sheffield Plate and Britannia metal. These two are intricately decorated with scroll work, surmounted by a knob. They each have three plain feet springing from leaves.