Described in Treen for the Table as a ‘Rare English sycamore Negus strainer turned from a huge block of wood’. Unusual to find, particularly in such good condition.
C1780. 
 
Negus was a beverage, created by Colonel Francis Negus in the early 1700s. It was made of wine, hot water, lemon juice, sugar, and nutmeg. Although Colonel Negus died in 1737, his drink remained a popular fortifier on cold evenings and in the early 1800s was expected to be served at balls. Negus is referred to in many pieces of literature from Jane Eyre, Wuthering Heights, A Christmas Carol to Jane Austen mentioning it as part of the fare at a ball in Mansfield Park
Negus in its heyday contained roughly equal parts of water and wine. By the 1860’s cookbooks suggested mixing one part of wine with four parts of water. Author Isabella Beaton wrote that such a watered-down drink was appropriate only for children’s parties.