A Pleasantly Purposeful Pickle Castor Surprise
By Alora Hayward
The Victorian pickle castor was a beautiful, sterling silver, glass jar. But what exactly was the pickle castor? And what was it used for? Pickles, as we know today, are cucumbers which have been preserved in vinegar or brine. However, in the Victorian era, pickles were something entirely different. While yes, pickled cucumbers were still a delicacy, the Victorians would (and could) pickle just about anything, such as fruits and more vegetables. One example is what is known as a chutney which is a condiment spread like relish or jelly, usually made from various spices and sugars mixed with vinegar. As one author notes: “Victorians were renowned for combining practical function with beauty”. And pleasantly perfect is the pickle castor. Its origins stem from approximately 1824, and were quite popular from mid- nineteenth-century up until Queen Victoria's death in 1901.
Image Description: A full-length photo of a Nineteenth-Century Victorian Pickle Castor, sitting on a table, with the window behind it and the sunlight hitting the left side of the Pickle-Castor ever so slightly.
Our pickle castor is from approximately the late nineteenth-century. As we see from the photo above, our pickle castor is beautifully ornate with a bell shaped base, each divided into six sections, with pictures of an oriental scene being depicted. Along with this, the stand has a shallow dish with curved and concave sides with ten panels as below. Along with this, we have two upright bars that also support the base and dish as a whole. It is a decorated crosspiece bar that goes around the dish. And on the outside of each upright is another upright which appears to be a bamboo-like post decorated with fans. The glass itself is impressed with floral, and other nature-like images; such as a dragonfly, and other flowers. Finally, the lid has impressions of fruit, along with beautiful images of birds, and again, other scenes of nature. Our pickle castor, like most pickle castors, has its own pair of tongs, which are in the shape of hands.
Image description: A close up photo of a Nineteenth-Century Victorian Pickle Castor, with a pair of tongs that are in the shape of hands
But what is all the fuss with pickles? How does this relate to anything at Dalnavert Museum? Well, we now have pickle castor socks in our gift shop. Show off your appreciation for this nifty Victorian gadget in style. You can purchase them in our gift shop!
Image Description: A pair of white socks with dark green heels, toes, and top band. The socks have a pattern of pickles and Victorian pickle castors. The socks are laid out on top of a wooden table.
Sources
Avey, Tori. “History in a Jar: The Story of Pickles.” PBS. September 3, 2014.
Kramp, Amanda. “Artifact of the Month: Pickle Castor.” Turtle Bay Exploration Park.
Walker, Chris. “Just What Is a Pickle Castor?” Go Back to the Past. February 16, 2021.