Silver posset pot, London, England, 1764
Posset, made from hot milk curdled with ale or wine and sometimes thickened with breadcrumbs, was drunk as a popular remedy for colds. Spices could also be added to the mixture. This example has been made to a very high standard from sterling silver. The hallmarks on the base of the pot have revealed the maker to be Jacob Marsh, one of the leading silversmiths of the period, who was producing work between 1741 and 1772. The pot is decorated with a technique known as repoussé. Repoussé is where the silver is hammered from the inside to create a raised pattern.
Object number:
A641412
Related Themes and Topics
Glossary:
Glossary: feeding
To provide with food or nourishment
Glossary: posset pot
A vessel for posset (hot milk curdled with ale or wine and seasoned with spices). Made in England in the 1700s and 1800s out of stoneware, tin-glazed earthenware, or glass.