Salt cellar

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An English glass salt cellar, circa 1720 Glass salt cellar 1720.jpg
An English glass salt cellar, circa 1720

A salt cellar (also called a salt, salt-box) is an article of tableware for holding and dispensing salt. In British English, the term can be used for what in North American English are called salt shakers. [1] [2] Salt cellars can be either lidded or open, and are found in a wide range of sizes, from large shared vessels to small individual dishes. Styles range from simple to ornate or whimsical, using materials including glass and ceramic, metals, ivory and wood, and plastic.

Contents

Use of salt cellars is documented as early as ancient Rome. They continued to be used through the first half of the 20th century; however, usage began to decline with the introduction of free-flowing salt in 1911, and they have been almost entirely replaced by salt shakers.[ citation needed ]

Salt cellars were an early collectible as pieces of silver, pewter, glass, etc. Soon after their role at the table was replaced by the shaker, salt cellars became a popular collectible in their own right.

Etymology

Black-glaze salt cellar. Terracotta, 5th century BC, Athens. Salt cellar Athens Louvre ED524.jpg
Black-glaze salt cellar. Terracotta, 5th century BC, Athens.

The word salt cellar is attested in English from the 15th century. It combines the English word salt with the Anglo-Norman word saler, which already by itself meant "salt container". [3]

Salt cellars are known, in various forms, by assorted names including open salt, salt dip, standing salt, master salt, and salt dish. A 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. A standing salt is a master salt, so-named because it remained in place as opposed to being passed. [4] A trencher salt is a small salt cellar located next to the trencher (i.e., place setting). [5] Open salt and salt dip refer to salt dishes that are uncovered.

The term salt cellar is also used generally to describe any container for table salt, thus encompassing salt shakers and salt pigs.

History

Cellini's Salt Cellar, made for Francis I of France, 1540-1543. Gold, partly enameled, with an ebony base. Depicts Earth and Sea personified. Salt Cellar.jpg
Cellini's Salt Cellar, made for Francis I of France, 1540–1543. Gold, partly enameled, with an ebony base. Depicts Earth and Sea personified.

Greek artifacts from the classical period in the shape of small bowls are often called salt cellars. Their function remains uncertain, though they may have been used for condiments including salt. [6] The Romans had the salinum, a receptacle typically of silver and regarded as essential in every household. The salinum had ceremonial importance as the container of the (salt) offering made during the meal, but it was also used to dispense salt to diners. [7]

During the Middle Ages, elaborate master salt cellars evolved. Placed at the head table, this large receptacle was a sign of status and prosperity, prominently displayed. It was usually made of silver and often decorated in motifs of the sea. In addition to the master salt, smaller, simpler salt cellars were distributed for diners to share; these could take forms as simple as slices of stale bread. [5] [8] The social status of guests could be measured by their positions relative to the master's large salt cellar: high-ranking guests sat above the salt while those of lesser importance sat below the salt. [9]

Formal place setting for a 12 course dinner; individual salt cellar at top of place setting Formal Place Setting 12 Course Dinner.jpg
Formal place setting for a 12 course dinner; individual salt cellar at top of place setting

Large, ornate master salts continued to be made through the Renaissance and Baroque periods, becoming more ceremonial. In England, the ornamental master salt came to be called a standing salt, because it was not passed but remained in place. By 1588, reference is documented in England to the "trencher salt"; by the early 18th century, these had mostly supplanted large salts. [10] [11] Tiny salt spoons appear in the 17th century, and in increasing numbers as the use of trencher salts increased. [12]

The advent of the Industrial Revolution in the late 18th to early 19th centuries rendered both salt and salt cellars commonplace. [13] From about 1825 pressed glass manufacture became an industry and thrived; because they were easy to mold, salt cellars were among the earliest items mass-produced by this method. [14] Similarly, the development of Sheffield plate (18th century), then electroplating (19th century), led to mass production of affordable silver-plated wares, including salt cellars.

Salt shakers began to appear in the Victorian era, [15] and patents show attempts to deal with the problem of salt clumping, but they remained the exception rather than the norm. It was not until after 1911, when anti-caking agents began to be added to table salt, that salt shakers gained favor and open salts began to fall into disuse. [16] [17]

Collectibility

Open salt dish, pressed glass; Boston and Sandwich Glass Company, 1830-1835 DAR glass - IMG 8708.JPG
Open salt dish, pressed glass; Boston and Sandwich Glass Company, 1830–1835

Silver, glass, china, pewter, stoneware, and other media used in the creation of tableware are collectible and have most likely been collected for centuries. By extension, salt cellars first became collectible as pieces of silver, [18] glass, [19] etc. Whether because of their commonness (and hence affordability), or the wide variety of them, or because of their slide into anachronism and quaintness, [20] salt cellars themselves became collectible at latest by the 1930s. [21]

A pair of George IV Irish silver Chinoiserie salt cellars, by William Nowlan, Dublin, 1825 Pair of George IV Irish silver Chinoiserie salt cellars, by William Nowlan, Dublin, 1825.jpg
A pair of George IV Irish silver Chinoiserie salt cellars, by William Nowlan, Dublin, 1825

Although antique salt cellars are not difficult to find and can be very affordable, modern manufacturers and artisans continue to make salt cellars. Reproductions are common, as are new designs that reflect current tastes.[ citation needed ]

The Cracow Saltworks Museum in Wieliczka, Poland, has a large collection of salt cellars. It contains over 1000 objects made of: porcelain, gold, silver, glass, wood, bone, quartz and mother-of-pearl. Those artifacts are on display in the Saltworks Castle (Zamek Żupny in Polish). [22]

The gothic salt cellar from around 1500 on exhibition in Saltworks Castle (the oldest object in collection) Solniczka gotycka, D. Kolakowski.jpg
The gothic salt cellar from around 1500 on exhibition in Saltworks Castle (the oldest object in collection)

Salt pig

An example of a salt pig Sprague Salt pig Elwood 22-3-2016.jpg
An example of a salt pig

A salt pig is a container used to hold salt, particularly in a kitchen, to make it easily accessible to pinch or spoon measure into dishes. They are available in many materials, but are generally ceramic, porcelain, earthenware or clay. The earthenware construction of a salt pig can help keep the salt from clumping in humid kitchens. According to the blog Mundane Essays, a blog in which writer Muness Alrubaiehis researched the origin of the term "salt pig", the use of "pig" is found in Scots and northern English dialect meaning an earthenware vessel. [23]

See also

Related Research Articles

Pewter is a malleable metal alloy consisting of tin (85–99%), antimony, copper (2%), bismuth, and sometimes silver. In the past it was an alloy of tin and lead, but most modern pewter, in order to prevent lead poisoning, is not made with lead. Pewter has a low melting point, around 170–230 °C (338–446 °F), depending on the exact mixture of metals. The word pewter is possibly a variation of "spelter", a term for zinc alloys.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Teapot</span> Vessel for preparing and serving tea

A teapot is a vessel used for steeping tea leaves or a herbal mix in boiling or near-boiling water, and for serving the resulting infusion which is called tea. It is one of the core components of teaware. Dry tea is available either in tea bags or as loose tea, in which case a tea infuser or tea strainer may be of some assistance, either to hold the leaves as they steep or to catch the leaves inside the teapot when the tea is poured. Teapots usually have an opening with a lid at their top, where the dry tea and hot water are added, a handle for holding by hand and a spout through which the tea is served. Some teapots have a strainer built-in on the inner edge of the spout. A small air hole in the lid is often created to stop the spout from dripping and splashing when tea is poured. In modern times, a thermally insulating cover called a tea cosy may be used to enhance the steeping process or to prevent the contents of the teapot from cooling too rapidly.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Table setting</span> Group of matched tableware or flatware for one diner

Table setting or place setting refers to the way to set a table with tableware—such as eating utensils and for serving and eating. The arrangement for a single diner is called a place setting. It is also the layout in which the utensils and ornaments are positioned. The practice of dictating the precise arrangement of tableware has varied across cultures and historical periods.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tableware</span> Items used for setting a table and serving food

Tableware items are the dishware and utensils used for setting a table, serving food, and dining. The term includes cutlery, glassware, serving dishes, serving utensils, and other items used for practical as well as decorative purposes. The quality, nature, variety and number of objects varies according to culture, religion, number of diners, cuisine and occasion. For example, Middle Eastern, Indian or Polynesian food culture and cuisine sometimes limits tableware to serving dishes, using bread or leaves as individual plates, and not infrequently without use of cutlery. Special occasions are usually reflected in higher quality tableware.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Beer stein</span> Drinking vessel

A beer stein, or simply stein, is either a traditional beer mug made out of stoneware or specifically an ornamental beer mug sold as a souvenir or collectible. An 1894 article on beer mugs in the American Vogue magazine that describes various types of steins stated: "And it is to this [i.e. German] nation that we owe Wagner's music and the apotheosis of the beer mug."

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Plate (dishware)</span> Flat vessel on which food can be served

A plate is a broad, mainly flat vessel on which food can be served. A plate can also be used for ceremonial or decorative purposes. Most plates are circular, but they may be any shape, or made of any water-resistant material. Generally plates are raised round the edges, either by a curving up, or a wider lip or raised portion. Vessels with no lip, especially if they have a more rounded profile, are likely to be considered as bowls or dishes, as are very large vessels with a plate shape. Plates are dishware, and tableware. Plates in wood, pottery and metal go back into antiquity in many cultures.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">History of salt</span> Role in human culture

Salt, also referred to as table salt or by its chemical formula NaCl, is an ionic compound made of sodium and chloride ions. All life depends on its chemical properties to survive. It has been used by humans for thousands of years, from food preservation to seasoning. Salt's ability to preserve food was a founding contributor to the development of civilization. It helped eliminate dependence on seasonal availability of food, and made it possible to transport food over large distances. However, salt was often difficult to obtain, so it was a highly valued trade item, and was considered a form of currency by many societies, including Rome. According to Pliny the Elder, Roman soldiers were paid in salt, from which the word salary is derived, although this is disputed by historians. Many salt roads, such as the Via Salaria in Italy, had been established by the Bronze Age.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tea caddy</span> Receptacle to store tea

A tea caddy is a box, jar, canister, or other receptacle used to store tea. When first introduced to Europe from Asia, tea was extremely expensive, and kept under lock and key. The containers used were often expensive and decorative, to fit in with the rest of a drawing-room or other reception room. Hot water was carried up from the kitchen, and the tea made by the mistress of the house, or under her supervision.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hip flask</span> Flask used to carry adult beverages

A hip flask is a thin flask for holding liquor.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Trencher (tableware)</span> Type of tableware used in medieval cuisine

A trencher is a type of tableware, commonly used in medieval cuisine. A trencher was originally a flat round of bread used as a plate, upon which the food could be placed to eat. At the end of the meal, the trencher could be eaten with sauce, but could also be given as alms to the poor. Later the trencher evolved into a small plate of metal or wood, typically circular and completely flat, without the lip or raised edge of a plate. Trenchers of this type are still used, typically for serving food that does not involve liquid; for example, the cheeseboard.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tankard</span> Drinking vessel

A tankard is a form of drinkware consisting of a large, roughly cylindrical, drinking cup with a single handle. Tankards are usually made of silver or pewter, but can be made of other materials, for example wood, ceramic, or leather. A tankard may have a hinged lid, and tankards featuring glass bottoms are also fairly common. Tankards are shaped and used similarly to beer steins.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Decorative box</span> Decorated package

A decorative box is a form of packaging that is generally more than just functional, but also intended to be decorative and artistic. Many such boxes are used for promotional packaging, both commercially and privately. Historical objects are usually called caskets if larger than a few inches in more than one dimension, with only smaller ones called boxes.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Salt spoon</span> Kind of spoon

A salt spoon is a miniature utensil used with an open salt cellar for individual service. It is a historical and nostalgic item from a time before table salt was free-flowing, as it is today. The spoon itself ranges from 2 to 3 inches long and has a circular bowl measuring approximately 0.5 to 0.75 inches. They can be found in a wide range of materials including glass, Sterling silver, plastic, wood, ivory, bone and shell.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Salt and pepper shakers</span> Condiment dispensers

Salt and pepper shakers or salt and pepper pots, of which the first item can also be called a salt cellar in British English, are condiment dispensers used in European cuisine that are designed to allow diners to distribute grains of edible salt and ground peppercorns. Salt and pepper shakers are sometimes held in a cruet-stand.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Elegant glass</span>

Elegant glass is high quality glassware created in the United States during the Depression Era. It was sold for high prices in department stores and given as wedding gifts. Although part of the Depression Era, it is considered by most to be a separate category or sub category of Depression glass. When new, Elegant glass would cost more than standard Depression glass, because it was at least partially handmade, had a cleaner finish, and more vibrant colors. From the 1920s through the 1950s, Elegant glass was an alternative to fine china. Most of the Elegant glassware manufacturers closed by the end of the 1950s, and cheap glassware and imported china took its place.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ceramic art</span> Decorative objects made from clay and other raw materials by the process of pottery

Ceramic art is art made from ceramic materials, including clay. It may take varied forms, including artistic pottery, including tableware, tiles, figurines and other sculpture. As one of the plastic arts, ceramic art is a visual art. While some ceramics are considered fine art, such as pottery or sculpture, most are considered to be decorative, industrial or applied art objects. Ceramic art can be created by one person or by a group, in a pottery or a ceramic factory with a group designing and manufacturing the artware.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sugar caster</span> Household item and part of tableware

A sugar caster is a small container, with a perforated top, larger than a salt shaker but similar in form. The sugar caster was part of a set of vessels, and a rack to hold them used to contain spices and condiments on the dining table. The set would have a salt shaker, a pepper shaker, a vinegar cruet, an oil cruet, a sugar shaker, and a mayonnaise jar with spoon. The word is first attested to in 1676.

Mary Rood or Roode was an 18th-century English silversmith.

References

  1. ↑ "Salt cellar definition and meaning | Collins English Dictionary". www.collinsdictionary.com.
  2. ↑ "salt cellar". dictionary.cambridge.org.
  3. ↑ Harper, Douglas. "Salt-cellar". Online Etymology Dictionary. Retrieved 31 January 2015.
  4. ↑ Watney, Sir John (1892). Some Account of the Hospital St. Thomas of Acon, in the Cheap, London, etc. London: Blades, East & Blades. p. 204.
  5. 1 2 Glanville, Philippa (2006). Silver in England. London: Routledge. pp. 43–44, 55–56. ISBN   0415382157.
  6. ↑ Connor, Peter; Jackson, Heather (2000). A Catalogue of Greek Vases in the Collection of the University of Melbourne. Macmillan. p. 188. ISBN   978-1876832070.
  7. ↑ Gutsfeld, Andreas (Münster) (2006). Hubert Cancik; Helmuth Schneider (eds.). "Salinum". Brill's New Pauly. Retrieved 30 October 2012.
  8. ↑ Scully, Terence (1995). The Art of Cookery in the Middle Ages. Boydell Press. p. 171. ISBN   978-0851154305.
  9. ↑ Harper, Douglas. "Salt". Online Etymology Dictionary. Retrieved 29 October 2012.
  10. ↑ Yaxley, David (2003). A Researcher's Glossary of Words Found in Historical Documents in East Anglia. Larks Press. ISBN   1904006132.
  11. ↑ Lawrence, Robert Means (1898). "The Folklore of Common Salt". The Magic of the Horseshoe. Houghton Mifflin.
  12. ↑ Wees, Beth Carver (1997). English, Irish, & Scottish silver at the Sterling and Francine Clark Art Institute (1 ed.). New York: Hudson Hills Press. p. 254. ISBN   1555951171.
  13. ↑ Laszlo, Pierre (2002). Salt: Grain of Life . Harper Collins. pp.  152–153. ISBN   0231121989.
  14. ↑ Notley, Raymond (1997). Pressed Flint Glass. UK: Shire Publications Ltd. p. 5. ISBN   0852637829.
  15. ↑ Schroy, Ellen T., ed. (2005). Warman's Americana & collectibles: identification and price guide (11th ed.). Iola, Wis.: Krause. p.  418. ISBN   087349685X.
  16. ↑ Moran, Mark F. (2008). Antique Trader salt and pepper shaker price guide. Iola, WI: Krause Publications Inc. p. 6. ISBN   9780896896369.
  17. ↑ "Salt Cellar". CooksInfo.com. 9 December 2010. Retrieved 28 October 2012.
  18. ↑ Bradbury, Frederick (1912). History of Old Sheffield Plate. London: Macmillan and Co. p.  309.
  19. ↑ Dyer, Walter A. (December 1906). "Old Glassware". Country Life in America. XI: 165–167.
  20. ↑ Proudlove, Christopher. "Worth their salt". WriteAntiques. Retrieved 3 November 2012.
  21. ↑ Ormsbee, Thomas Hamilton (June 1936). "Marked and Lacy Sandwich Salt Dishes". American Collector. Retrieved 3 November 2012.
  22. ↑ https://muzeum.wieliczka.pl/en/collections/salt-cellars [ bare URL ]
  23. ↑ "CooksInfo". CooksInfo.
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