Anatomy of a Pickle Castor

King's Crown Pickle Castor

I wanted to write a wonderful article describing all the questions that I had about pickle castors knowing that other people would be interested also.  To my dismay, I haven't found much written about pickle castors.  Lots about pickles and lots about castors, but hardly anything about pickle castors.  I kept reading and being told "its to put pickles in." 

My research reminded me a great deal of another question I had when I was a child "Why do cats purr?" ....because they're happy I was told time and time again.... well duh... I knew that!  I wanted to know the exact physical reason why cats purr.  I hate to admit that as an adult I haven't pursued the answer to that question.

I want to know why is there such an ornate accessory just for pickles?  We live in such a different time now where most of us probably just fork a pickle out of it's jar and if we're feeling particularly neat we'll hold the forked pickle over a paper towel and eat it.  This got me wondering what exactly was the use of this piece.  It almost seems like pickles were celebrated.  It has been offered that pickles were eaten after a meal to aid in digestion.  This seems reasonable to me since even now something that aids in digestion would be celebrated!  Unfortunately, it's not a pickle though it's AlkaZan or GraviSeltzer or whatever the miracle of the week is.  I even recall referring to liquid Maalox while I was 

pregnant as "nectar from the Gods."  Would have been nice to serve it from a beautiful ornate Antacid Castor.

So, I'm left with just the basics for now the definition of castor is "a small vessel with from which one casts;" in this case you cast pickles.  It says in WALDEN's Antique & Collectible Glass Art dictionary that " Pickle Castors, which were both functional and decorative, became popular after the Civil War, reaching their peak about 1885.  By 1900, they had virtually disappeared from factory catalogs. Numerous styles were available. They consisted of a decorated silver plated frame that held either a fancy clear pressed glass insert or one of decorated art glass - the latter being popular in the more affluent Victorian households and more desirable with collectors today." 

View of base.

The lovely pictures you are enjoying were taken of a pickle castor I was fortunate to visit.  Just looking at the whole piece is stunning, but when you look more closely, it is truly a work of art.  Above and to the left are pictures of some of the details on the sides and base.  Click on each of the 4 pictures to see a larger view.

I have to admit knowing it's value made me very leery of handling it too much; though, I wanted to take it apart and really have a good look at it.  This trip I just took pictures maybe next trip I'll get the nerve to really get a better look and maybe throw a pickle in it.

View of side.