Set of five spice canisters

1860-1910

Measurements

3-7/8 in x 2-7/8 in (dia)

Materials

Tinned sheet iron

Credit Line

Historic Odessa Foundation, gift of H. Rodney Sharp

Accession Number

1959.3873

Condition Notes

Each canister has lost almost all of its exterior paint and finish.

Provenance

Historic Odessa Foundation, gift of H. Rodney Sharp

Comments

The canisters in this set are similar to toleware (i.e., painted tinware) spice boxes such as those catalogued as accession no. 1971.896, which survived as a set of seven and in better condition.  When originally catalogued c. 1959, these five were said to have names of spices on each canister:  .1 “Nutmeg”, .2 “Ginger”, .3 “Cloves”, .4 “Mace”, and .5 “Cinnamon”. The names are no longer legible, but the record suggests another point of similarity to the set of seven noted above. 

These five spice containers could have been from a larger set.