Object number
65/219
Description
A cane-bottomed seived with 1/4 inch square holes. It was used in the malting process. It was acquired from T. & R. G. Grace, corn millers, maltsters and agricultural merchants of Tring, Hertfordshire.
Label Text
Sieve. Obtained from T. & R. G. Grace, a group of corn millers, maltsters and merchants, this sieve would have been used in the malting process. Malting consists of steeping certain grains - such as barley or rye - in water to induce germination and produce malt enzyme. This malt is then used for brewing or to make malt vinegar. Sieving is a crucial element of the cleaning process that must take place both before and germination. It removes unwanted objects from the grain, such as straw, rocks and sand. Malting has been in demand for as long as beer has! Ancient malting would typically consist of steeping bagged barley in a stream, before leaving it to germinate and drying in a kiln.
Archival history
MERL ‘Handwritten catalogue’ form – ‘SIEVE // 65/219 // 65/220 // Processing – Grain malt // T. & R. G. Grace // 219: 34” Diam // 8½” Deep // Cane bottom, forming mesh with ¼” square holes. // 220: 19½” Diam // 3½” Deep // Wire bottom forming mesh with 2” square holes.’
Object name
Associated subject
Associated person/institution
External document
- L:\MERL\Objects\JISC 2012\60 series negatives\60_6389.tif - High resolution image
