Silver Salt Cellars Part III

Continued from Part II, Silver Salt Cellars

The study of salt cellars suggests a flying word on the salt spoon. To quote from an essay by Addison, dated 1711, the Spectator says, in an account he gives of dining with a fine lady:

“In the midst of these my Musings she desires me to reach her a little Salt upon the point ot my Knife, which I did in such Trepidation and hurry of Obedience, that I let it drop by the way, at which she immediately startled and said it fell towards her. Upon this I looked very blank; and, observing the Concern of the whole Table, began to consider myself with some confusion, as a person that had brought some Disaster upon the Family.”

This is a pretty picture of eighteenth century “high life.” The superstition concerning the spilling of salt is still with us, but helping salt with a knife is no longer in fashion in “polite society.”

In general silver salt cellars may be classified as follows, commencing with the Standing Salt, with its determination of rank as to those who sat above the salt and those who sat below it:

Standing Salts. The earliest are shaped like hourglasses. These belong to the fifteenth and first half of sixteenth century.

Cylindrical and casket forms, with rich ornamentation in repousse work, with chased figures and surmounted by cover with standing figure, are found in the sixteenth century. E.g. the Standing Salt, part of the Stoke Prior treasure, dated 1563 (at the Victoria and Albert Museum).

The Bell-shaped Salt is of the late sixteenth and early seventeenth century, and the tall Steeple Salt belongs to the same period. The above types often had compartments in tiers reserved for spices.

The circular and octagonal forms of lesser height, with three and sometimes four guards with scroll ends, belong to the seventeenth century.

Trencher Salts. These were in use contemporaneously with the tall standing salts, either on less formal occasions or at the lower end of the table below the salt.

Early forms in the first half of the seventeenth century are circular (1603) or triangular (1630). These were diminutive, measuring only some 3 inches across, and being sometimes only I inch high.

Eighteenth-century Salts. A great variety of form is apparent, and many styles succeeded each other, disappearing only to be revived a quarter of a century later.

Circular (1698-1710), oval, octagonal (1715-40), tripod (1750). Circular with three feet; oblong and octagonal, slightly taller (1775), with pierced work on fouc feet, and with glass liner. Oblong, plain, with three feet. Tureen-shaped or boat-shaped, plain, with swelling foot, sometimes with rings as handles, or with two handles (1780).

Shell-shaped salts in vogue 1788 ; circular, vase-shaped, with lions’ heads and tripod feet (1798).

Early Nineteenth-century Salts. George IV and William IV styles, a reversion to some of the older types. The tureen and the circular-shaped salt, with four or three feet (1820-1830).
Circular bowls on stands, with tripod and elaborate feet, the fashion (1810-1830). Many pieces betray classical influence.

Silver Salt Cellars Part IV, continued

Tagged as: antique, English, salt cellars, Silver