Nutmeg Grater
1705–10
Medium
Silver, steel
Dimensions
2 9/16 x 3/4 in. (6.5 x 1.9 cm); 1 oz. 1 dwt. (31.9 g)
Classification
Nutmeg Grater
Culture
American
Department
The American Wing
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Bequest of Alphonso T. Clearwater, 1933
Accession Number
33.120.238
Art Historical Context
Nestled in The American Wing of the Metropolitan Museum of Art this delicate nutmeg grater, crafted by Boston silversmith William Cow Sr. around 1705–10, exemplifies early colonial American craftsmanship. Measuring just 2 9/16 x 3/4 inches and weighing a mere 1 oz. 1 dwt., the petite object is fashioned from gleaming silver with a steel grating mechanism, perfect for its utilitarian purpose. Cowell's work reflects the refined silversmithing traditions brought from England, where such tools were status symbols in prosperous households. In the early 18th century, nutmeg—a pungent spice imported...