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Salt

Salt Cellar
ca. 1560 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

This is a salt cellar made in Venice, Italy, about 1560. This cellar is in gilt bronze and represents four kneeling figures upholding a sarcophagus shaped vase, the sides of which are engraved with marine subjects. The cover is decorated with trophies.

Object details

Categories
Object type
Parts
This object consists of 2 parts.

  • Salt
  • Putti
TitleSalt (generic title)
Materials and techniques
Gilt bronze
Brief description
Salt cellar, gilt bronze , Venetian, ca. 1560
Physical description
Four kneeling figures uphold a sarcophagus shaped vase, the sides of which are engraved with marine subjects, the cover decorated with trophies.
Dimensions
  • Height: 45.72cm
  • Width: 188mm
Gallery label
(01/07/2023)
Pass the salt, please

Salt was very expensive in the past, so a fancy salt pot could show how rich its owner was. Important people were allowed to sit closest to it for easy seasoning.

Salt cellar
Unknown maker
About 1560
Venice, Italy
Gilt bronze
Museum no. 626-1865

[Young V&A, Imagine Gallery, The Living Room, short object label]
626-1865: Salt
Four kneeling figures up hold a sarcophagus shaped vase, the sides of which are engraved with marine subjects, the cover decorated with trophies.
Gilt bronze
Venetian; about 1560
Soulages collection
Object history
Bought from the Soulages Collection in 1865 for £20.
Subjects depicted
Summary
This is a salt cellar made in Venice, Italy, about 1560. This cellar is in gilt bronze and represents four kneeling figures upholding a sarcophagus shaped vase, the sides of which are engraved with marine subjects. The cover is decorated with trophies.
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
626-1865

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Record createdMarch 27, 2006
Record URL
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