Holt Antiques at Walsingham Mill
Mid 18th-Century Antique Brass Salamander | Cooking Utensil
Mid 18th-Century Antique Brass Salamander | Cooking Utensil
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Discover a rare 18th-century English brass salamander, historically used to brown and glaze dishes in open-hearth cooking. Measuring 63.5 cm (25 inches) in length, this elegant culinary relic blends function and form—an evocative piece of domestic history from Holt Antiques at Walsingham Mill.
Historic Context
Salamanders were indispensable in early modern kitchens, especially from the late 1600s onward. These flat metal tools—heated until red-hot—were held over food to finish dishes with a crisp glaze or golden crust. The name “salamander” evokes the mythical fire-dwelling creature, fitting for a tool forged to withstand intense heat. The flat head is also reminscent of the amphibious creature.
Used in manor houses and taverns alike, salamanders helped prepare everything from roasted meats to sweet puddings. Brass examples like this one were prized for their durability and aesthetic appeal, often doubling as decorative hearth implements when not in use.
This example has a shaped handle with a knop at its base, an elongated shaft, again with a knop, and terminates with a shaped flat head with seven decorative drainage holes.
Provenance: 18th Century. England.
Condition: The utensil was silver-plated at some point during its working life, albeit this is now incredibly worn. Please refer to the images.
Size: Length 63.5 cm (25 inches)
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