Lord Nelson Pottery Large ‘Caster Sugar’ Lidded Canister in Red c.1960s

This is a classic example of an earthenware caster sugar storage canister produced under the trade name of Lord Nelson Pottery and dating to the 1960s.

The canister has a short, galleried neck and a wide, cylindrical body. The body is decorated with a circular panel in light pink and red which contains the words ‘CASTER SUGAR’ above a cake slice and rolled sponge motif. There are stylised trefoil and dot motifs at the ‘corners’, also in light pink and red. The whole design repeats three times around the body.

The lid is of a flattened cylindrical form, with a central light pink circle encircled by six trefoil-and-dot motifs in red. Where the lid steps inwards, there is a recessed groove that contains the red rubber seal, which is in excellent condition.

The base is marked in black with an N logo surmounted by a crown, with the words ‘LORD NELSON POTTERY HAND-CRAFTED IN ENGLAND SINCE 1758’. This is one of the marks used by Elijah Cotton (Ltd), who was based at the Nelson Pottery in Hanley, Staffordshire, from 1889.

It has a maximum height (including the lid) of approximately 19.5cm, with a diameter across the rim of about 7.9cm and across the base of about 9.8cm.

It has an unwrapped weight of 690g.

It is in good condition, with one small chip in the glaze at the rim, measuring 2mm across, and along the inside of the lid (see pictures). These are not visible unless the lid is removed. This wear is reflected in the price.