Dredgers are frequently represented as belonging to centrepieces in 18th Century prints. Johann 
Bauer’s design for a plat-de-menage also includes a “Botte ä Sucre” (Fig. 137, p. 123). Castors can 
also be seen in three further centrepieces (Fig. 138, p. 124, Fig. 139, p. 125, Fig. 155, p. 133). It can 
be assumed that at least some of these vessels with high perforated lids were used sugar castors. 
The next section deals with the typical shapes of sugar castors found in the countries of the Austro- 
Hungarian Monarchy, particularly in the region of Vienna. Comparisons will be made with castors 
front other sources, indicating differences and common features. 
The earliest Viennese sugar castor illustrated here (Fig. 140, p. 126) is baluster shaped. The sides are 
smooth, the perforated lid with a bayonet fastening has a high baluster knob. Two somewhat later 
castors are also of this shape, although their surfaces are broken by vertical features (Fig. 141, 
p. 126, Fig. 143, p. 127). Two Viennese castors of different materials are also comparable. Although 
the floral decoration of the porcelain object (Fig. 142, p. 127) obscures the shape somewhat, there 
are striking similarities with the Viennese silver castor (Fig. 143, p. 127). This can be exactly dated to 
the year 1743. A similar Viennese porcelain castor by Du Paquier’s manufactory dates from the per- 
iod prior to 1744, the year in which the factory was taken over by the Austrian state. 
The double bellied lower part of the body (Fig. 141, p. 126, Figs. 142, 143, p. 127) is a characteristic 
feature of these castors, and can also be found in a considerably later English counterpart (Fig. 144, 
p. 128) as well as in Austrian castors (Fig. 147, p. 129). This type can be traced into the second half 
of the 19th Century. 
The sweeping perforated lid of another castor (Fig. 146, p. 129) is similar to English shapes (Fig. 148, 
p. 130). The white overlay of the colourless crystal core (Fig. 146, p. 129) appears to emulate the 
white porcelain of the Viennese and Meissen castors (Fig. 142, p. 127, Fig. 145, p. 128). A later Varia 
tion of this type can be found in the Berndorf catalogue of 1893 (Fig. 150, p. 131). 
According to Gruber, the baluster shape appeared around 1700 and became common throughout 
Europe. In his publication it is represented by French, English and German examples, and can be 
followed through into the 20th Century. 
Apart from the baluster shape, Austrian castors can also be found with pear shaped, cylindrical, high 
shouldered vase shaped and conical bodies. We are already familiär with pear shaped castors with 
gadrooning from the 18th and 19th centuries (Figs. 153-155, p. 133). One Viennese castor with a 
pear shaped body and a high lid with a bayonet fastening was produced in the year 1863 (Fig. 152, 
p. 132). Three-footed castors came from Hungary and Germany (Figs. 156, 157, p. 135), one of them 
(Fig. 157, p. 134) and two Viennese objects (Figs. 158, 159, p. 135) with gadrooning. 
Tower shaped castors were already being manufactured in England and France in the last third of 
the 17th Century. English metal castors (Figs. 160, 161, p. 136, Fig. 163, p. 138) and glass castors 
with metal lids (Fig. 162, p. 137) have the same cylindrical shape with knobless domed lids. The early 
French tower shaped castor of 1670 is similar to two other castors (Figs. 165, 166, p. 139) in design, 
with a knobbed lid whose projecting edge is emphasised like the base. 
Considerable popularity was attained by the high shouldered vase shape with a separate base, con- 
cave neck and domed lid both with and without a knob (Figs. 167-174, pp. 140-143), with smooth or 
ornamented sides, frequently with a combination of gadrooning and festoons (Figs. 175-178, 
pp. 144, 145). The Austrian examples exhibit the basic shape with a relatively flat lid (Figs. 179, 181, 
pp. 146, 147), and also a special shape with a convex, flattened Shoulder, and a narrow shaft with 
ring or bead like nodes and floral borders (Figs. 182-185, pp. 148, 149). 
Yet another group is characterised by a shape with an arched Shoulder and a slightly concave body 
above the base (Figs. 187-191, pp. 151-153). The compactness of this shape may be further empha 
sised by a very narrow neck (Figs. 187, 188, p. 151). 
A variety of shapes with ring nodes are frequently horizontally divided by gadrooning, profiled Strips, 
circular beading and ornamental borders (Figs. 192-195, pp. 154, 155). There are also vase shaped 
castors whose entire surface is heavily structured, either by the ground or pressed diamond or 
strawberry diamond decoration of the glass sides (Figs. 197, 198, pp. 156, 157), the geometrically ar- 
ranged cutting of multicoloured cased glass (Fig. 199, p. 157), or ribbed and ridged silver shapes 
(Fig. 196, p. 156). This may be emphasised horizontally in the area of the shouider (Figs. 200-203, 
pp. 158-160). Apart from ridges in the sides, the contours of the body - now often of twofold con- 
vexity - begin to be curved. The base and lid are adapted to this design principle. The numerous ex 
amples in silver (Fig. 203, p. 160) may be compared with one of glass (Fig. 204, p. 160). 
Broad areas of floral decoration, sometimes accompanied by intricate leaf and floral borders, give 
added emphasis to the curves (Figs. 207-209, pp. 162, 163). A specific baluster shape evident from 
the late thirties onwards is characterised by repeated convex and concave surfaces, underlined by 
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