Object number
53/184/1-7
Description
This spice box was used for storing spices to keep them fresh. It belonged to the donor's great aunt, who was born in 1877, and the box itself probably dates from at least the late 19th century. The box itself consists of a black japanned tin box, with six small japanned tin boxes inside with the words 'Cinnamon', 'Mace', 'Allspice', 'Nutmeg', 'Ginger' and 'Cloves' written on in gold lettering on their tops.
Physical description
1 spice box: metal [tin]; fair condition: the japan laquer has worn off in many places
Label Text
Spice box. This spice box would have held spices to keep them fresh. Labelling inside the box indicates it carried cinnamon, mace, allspice, nutmeg, ginger and cloves. In the medieval period, spices were extremely expensive and a sign of status, with a pound of ginger costing roughly the same as a sheep. However, with British colonial influence growing in the 19th century, they became more affordable for British households. Many spice plantations made use of slave labour. Some overseers, such as Murdoch Brown of the Anjarakandy Cinnamon Estate in India, kidnapped local women and children and forced them to work. For more information, see the online exhibition on the ways in which our holdings reflect colonial India.
Production date
1875-01-01 - 1899-12-31
Production period
Late-nineteenth century
Object name
Material
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