Pair of Salt Cellars thumbnail 1
Not on display

Pair of Salt Cellars

late 18th century (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

This is a Sheffield plate salt cellar. Smaller salt cellars that stood near individual plates developed in the early 17th century. They replaced the inconvenient central standing salt. This salt cellar dates from about 1790. At this time pierced oval-shaped cellars in the Neo-classical style were common. They had four ball-and-claw feet and coloured glass liners.

The plater used a fly press to stamp the pierced decoration. Fly presses contained a shaped punch that pressed out patterns in silver-plated copper or Sheffield plate. Silversmiths traditionally used the fretsaw to cut patterns out of silver sheet. However, sawing plated objects tended to disturb the thin layer of silver and expose the edge of the copper beneath the silver plate. As the fly press pierced the plate metal, it also ingeniously dragged the top layer of silver over the edge of the copper. It joined it to the layer of silver on the underside and thereby concealed the cut copper edge.

Object details

Categories
Object type
Parts
This object consists of 4 parts.

  • Salt Cellar
  • Salt Cellar
  • Liner
  • Liner
Brief description
Salt cellars, Sheffield plate with blue glass liner, late 18th century, English
Physical description
Pointed oval, the side pierced with vertical slits between borders of lozenges; fluted feet; beaded edge.
Dimensions
  • Height: 4.57cm
  • Length: 8.89cm
Style
Production typeMass produced
Credit line
The Wolseley Bequest
Production
Reason For Production: Retail
Summary
This is a Sheffield plate salt cellar. Smaller salt cellars that stood near individual plates developed in the early 17th century. They replaced the inconvenient central standing salt. This salt cellar dates from about 1790. At this time pierced oval-shaped cellars in the Neo-classical style were common. They had four ball-and-claw feet and coloured glass liners.

The plater used a fly press to stamp the pierced decoration. Fly presses contained a shaped punch that pressed out patterns in silver-plated copper or Sheffield plate. Silversmiths traditionally used the fretsaw to cut patterns out of silver sheet. However, sawing plated objects tended to disturb the thin layer of silver and expose the edge of the copper beneath the silver plate. As the fly press pierced the plate metal, it also ingeniously dragged the top layer of silver over the edge of the copper. It joined it to the layer of silver on the underside and thereby concealed the cut copper edge.
Collection
Accession number
M.252-1920

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Record createdSeptember 24, 2002
Record URL
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