The Chauffeur, 1909
Archive Stories: the inspiration behind our ‘Midnight Maker’.
Have you seen the Chauffeur?
For cayenne pepper, salt or ordinary pepper, our Smythson Archive condiment shaker was a ‘novelty for the dinner table’. First discovered in our 1909 catalogue, the proudly standing Chauffeur with a Chester-based hallmark is a reference to Frank Smythson’s early career in silversmithing.
Rather well-kept, his uniform is neatly fastened — from button to button — and finished with a peaked cap. Made from oxidised silver, the charming figurine maintains a polished body with ‘bright parts’ catching the light from head to toe. While he’s not on display, simply tip him upside down and his perforated lid will sprinkle.
In 1909 England, around the tail end of transport being largely by horse and carriage, motor cars were still very much a curiosity. Our neat Chauffeur might have been somewhat of a fascination of the time to some, while for others it symbolised the social circle that they were part of. Available in two sizes, the smaller came with a spoon, nodding to a finer-laid dinner table.
Transformed with a dash of magic, the Chauffeur became our esteemed ‘Midnight Maker’, who worked around the clock — as one can imagine, so might have the Chauffeur — to bring our workshop to life with the spirit of Christmas.
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