Earl Spencer notes that “when I took over running Althorp House in 1992, this piece was listed as a jam pot. Not very practical, I thought, if you were expected to put a sticky spoon back in the slot on the side. So I had the experts in, and it turned out to be a ‘pot au tabac’ - a tobacco pot: a generous host would encourage guests to help themselves to its contents. I’m still learning so much about this magical place.....” #Historicalthorp #Sevres #althorphouse #althorplivinghistory #englishhistory #potautabac #historyofobjects #porcelain