Mrs Henry Adkins Sen Colonial Chutney Bottle

This is an iconic bottle - the forerunner of Mrs Ball's Chutney. In about 1870 Mrs Sarah Adkins started making her chutney, but gave it the rather burdensome name of Mrs Henry Adkins' Sen. Colonial Chutney Manufacturer, Fort Jackson, C.C. (Cape  Colony). One of her 4 daughters, Amelia, married Herbert Ball; on his retirement they moved to Cape Town - to Fish Hoek in fact, where she began producing her mother's chutney, but giving it the name Mrs Ball's Chutney.

The bottle is in good condition, with clear embossing. It is slightly dulled from having been buried and has one tiny pot stone in the glass (shown in photo). It has a pleasantly slightly lobsided look. It was made by Barnett & Foster of London.The bottle is 23 cm high.

A little footnote. When I began teaching at Fish Hoek High, I actually taught a descendant of Mrs Ball !