Unusual Artifacts: A Silver-Gilt Caddinet, 1688

Caddinet
Silver-Gilt, 1688-89
Anthony Nelme
Made for King William and Queen Mary
Sold to Rundell, Bridge & Rundell, 1808
Acquired by Queen Elizabeth II, 1975
The Royal Collection

The very first caddinet in England was introduced for the coronation of King Charles II in 1661. Charles II declared the use of a caddinet the sole dominion of the Royal family. A caddinet (deriving its name from “cadenas,” meaning padlock) is an object used on a dining table. The compartments at the top of the caddinet (often with locking mechanisms) were used to hold salt and cutlery. The tray, often engraved, was set with a napkin and slices of bread and placed at the chair of the head of the household.


Only three English caddinets remain in existence. This is one of them. Created in 1688-1689 for the coronation of King William and Queen Mary, this caddinet is engraved with their cipher. Over the next two centuries as caddinets fell from daily use, the keepers of the Royal Collection had a hard time identifying the object and inventoried it as an “old, siver inkstand” before auctioning it off in 1808. The items was purchased by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II in 1975 via private sale. I imagine that she knew what it was.