S/5140 Antique Treen Early 19th Century Boxwood Sugar Loaf Mallet

A rare and good quality large boxwood sugar loaf mallet, having a shaped and well turned handle, that unscrews and reveals a steel bladed knife shaped chisel, for breaking particles from a sugar loaf. The mallet end, in one piece, comprises of twin shaped balls joined by a collar. The whole has a gorgeous colour and patination, as often found in well used boxwood items.

Sugar loaves could be up to 55 pounds in weight, below 12 pounds they were rounded top loaves, above that weight up to 55 pounds they were pointed and known as cones. After using the mallet and chisel, sugar nippers were used to break it up into smaller pieces for use at the table. It is a rare collector's item.

Ex Deeley Collection and illustrated in A History of Cooking Through the Ages by Robert Deeley and Philip Drury on page 118.

Sold 12½ in. (32 cm.) Wide
4¼ in. (11 cm.) Deep
2¼ in. (6 cm.) Diameter English Circa 1820