One of a pair of salt cellars thumbnail 1
One of a pair of salt cellars thumbnail 2
Not currently on display at the V&A

One of a pair of salt cellars

Salt Cellar
ca. 1570 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

This is one of a pair of salt cellars made in Italy, probably Venice, in about 1570. This cellar is in gilt bronze with silver embellishments and represents the figure of Jupiter, the supreme Roman god believed to control the future, standing above the bowl for the salt. There are Tritons and sea-horses below.


Object details

Categories
Object type
TitleOne of a pair of salt cellars (named collection)
Materials and techniques
Bronze gilt salt cellar; the ornamental masks and faces of the Tritons are in silver
Brief description
Salt cellar, bronze gilt, one of a pair, representing three Tritons on a triangular plinth and Jupiter above the bowl, Italian (Venice?), ca. 1570
Physical description
The figure of Jupiter, the supreme Roman god believed to control the future, stands above the bowl for the salt. Below are Tritons and sea-horses.
Dimensions
  • Height: 30.48cm
  • Diameter of the base diameter: 22.86cm
Object history
Bought from the Soulages Collection for £25.
Subjects depicted
Summary
This is one of a pair of salt cellars made in Italy, probably Venice, in about 1570. This cellar is in gilt bronze with silver embellishments and represents the figure of Jupiter, the supreme Roman god believed to control the future, standing above the bowl for the salt. There are Tritons and sea-horses below.
Bibliographic reference
Inventory of Art Objects acquired in the Year 1865. Inventory of the Objects in the Art Division of the Museum at South Kensington, arranged According to the Dates of their Acquisition. Vol. 1. London : Printed by George E. Eyre and William Spottiswoode for H.M.S.O., 1868, p. 53
Collection
Accession number
624-1865

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Record createdApril 29, 2008
Record URL
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