Novelty Three Bears Sterling Silver Condiment Set, 1976

This is an extremely rare silver condiment set in the form of three cast bears.

This novelty cruet set comprises a salt pot with single hole and a pepper pot with multiple holes (both filled via a threaded insert under the base), plus a mustard pot with hinged head and gilt interior. A particularly charming feature is the spoon with a salmon finial, so that when inserted into the mustard pot the fish appears to be the bear's next meal.

Frogs and owls are the more commonly found novelty silver condiment sets in the form of animals; we have never seen bears before! In line with other cast sets, these three cruets are superbly modeled, have a nice hefty weight in the hand and just ooze high quality. The set was made by Barnards, the top London silversmithing company and are in excellent condition.