Posted 2 years ago
nchildress57
(1 item)
Would anyone know why my set of 4 salt cellars have different depths? 2 are one depth and the other 2 are more shallow. Thank you!
Set of antique Salt Cellars have different Depths | ||
| China and Dinnerware1 of 6044 |  |  |
Sone history...
"Salt cellars were a vessel used to store salt until the invention of the salt shaker in 1858. The salt cellar was given to the head of the table at the beginning of a meal, and subsequently passed around the table in an almost ceremonious style. Where each guest sat at the table, in relation to the salt cellar, determined her status."
master salt is the large receptacle from which the smaller, distributed, salt dishes are filled; according to fashion or custom it was lidded, or open, or covered with a cloth."
https://www.mastersalt.nl/master-salt-name-origin#:~:text=Salt%20cellars%20are%20known%20by,or%20covered%20with%20a%20cloth.
Your possible answer is...maybe the shallow ones were made before the use of spoons? Just my guess..
"As more salt cellars for the use of individual guests appeared on dining tables, it was more polite and elegant for guests to use spoons rather than their fingers or the point of a knife to take salt and put it on their plates."
No this is a matching set of 4 with 4 individual sterling spoons.
it's not unusual for items like this to be offered in varied sizes as well as variations in production. you're allowed 4 images; perhaps side views might help us understand.
a good site for salts is below but not sure how up to date they keep it:
https://www.opensalts.us/
Thank you. I just added the side view showing the little feet.
these were made by multiple makers which could explain variances:
https://www.eapgs.net/full-images.php?idx=85682&pat=7857
Thank you! That would explain it!
Great information Tallcakes.
nchildress57 Welcome to CW. In the future it would be helpful to offer more information, like they have matching spoons. That makes a bug difference. And more pictures is always better. Hopefully we answered your questions..
And..fyi..we can't edit our comments...like spelling mistakes!
I have one of these, I always wondered what it was and what time period
Thanks yall ?