Shake it out!
Ever wonder about pieces you might find on a Victorian dining room table? Join us for the next couple of weeks as we peek in the cabinets at the FRHS and highlight some uncommon dishware!
Today’s find is a sugar shaker, referred to as a muffineer. Contrary to its name, the muffineer was not relegated to sugaring muffins; they would be used to add a sweet touch to all sorts of delicious treats. Both granulated and powdered sugar could be used in the muffineer, depending on the user’s taste.
Our muffineer is made of frosted milk glass with hand-painted pink and blue enamel Queen Anne’s lace, connected with delicate green vines. A silver-plated perforated top allows for sugar to be spread onto food without worry of making a mess. Muffineers were crafted in various materials, from glass or porcelain to silver, brass, and even wood. This sugar shaker was manufactured by Mount Washington Glass Works in New Bedford, and dates from 1880 to 1890.
While sugar shakers are still in use, you might be hard pressed to find one as ornate on today’s breakfast table. Though we wouldn’t mind using this muffineer to add some powdered sugar to some sweet bread French toast!