salt and spices

shelf 5

Served from various ceramic and metal containers, salt is one of the five basic tastes, and essential for normal function of the human body—although too much salt can also cause health issues. Underscoring salt’s role in the history of world commerce, the word salary comes from the Latin sal, meaning salt, as Roman soldiers were sometimes paid in salt.

 

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A container with a rounded handle, pierced lid, and small rounded finial. The letters “HDI” are engraved on the right side and a list of text is engraved on the left side.

Samuel Vernon

American, 1683–1737

Pepperbox, ca. 1720

Silver

Bequest of Daniel Howland 2003.135.2

A silver, glass, and gilded mustard pot with a protruding spoon, the lid is hinged to the angular handle. The decorations are raised.

William Aitken, silversmith

English (Birmingham), active ca. 1894–1921

Mustard Pot with Spoon, 1908

Silver with gilding and glass

Gift of Miss Elizabeth E. Holland 37.413

Round plate decorated with an image of buildings and trees. There is a concave well in the center of the form.

Italian

Salt Dish, 1600s–1700s

Earthenware with tin glaze, polychrome metal oxides, and glaze

Gift of Mr. Eugene L. Garbaty 51.112

A sculptural figure standing, holding a vessel, dressed in historical clothing with tightly curled hair. The entire stoneware figure is a light cream color.

German

Figural Standing Salt, 1740–1760

Stoneware with salt glaze

Walter H. Kimball Fund 1996.17

A lead-glazed earthenware plate that has different compartments. There are yellow, white, blue, and green glazed decorations.

Italian (Deruta)

Plate with Egg Cups and Salt Dish, ca. 1600

Earthenware with tin glaze, polychrome metal oxides, and glaze

Bequest of Mrs. Hope Brown Russell 09.515

A silver salt container that is rounded on the inside and angular on the outside.

John Tuite

b. Ireland, active Dublin 1710-1720, active London 1723–d. 1740

Pair of Salts, 1727

Silver

Gift and Bequest from the Collection of David and Peggy Rockefeller 2017.74.35.1–2

A silver salt container that is rounded on the inside and angular on the outside.

John Tuite

b. Ireland, active Dublin 1710-1720, active London 1723–d. 1740

Pair of Salts, 1727

Silver

Gift and Bequest from the Collection of David and Peggy Rockefeller 2017.74.35.1–2

A silver salt spoon with a bowl that comes to a blunt flat tip and a neck that starts out thinner and goes to a thicker rounded handle.

William S. Morgan

American, active 1832–1881

Pair of Salt Spoons, mid-1800s

Silver

Gift of the Estate of Elizabeth T. Casey 1989.045.12.166.1–2

A silver salt spoon with a bowl that comes to a blunt flat tip and a neck that starts out thinner and goes to a thicker rounded handle.

William S. Morgan

American, active 1832–1881

Pair of Salt Spoons, mid-1800s

Silver

Gift of the Estate of Elizabeth T. Casey 1989.045.12.166.1–2

A cream colored triangular salt cellar with three holes on the top with decorative floral decorations.

French

Salt Cellar, early 1700s

Earthenware with tin glaze, polychrome metal oxides, and glaze

Bequest of Martha B. Lisle 67.250

A silver caster with a square foot with small balls in each corner, the lid is perforated.

Thomas Wallis I

English, active ca. 1758–1822

Caster, 1809–1810

Silver

Bequest of Mr. Charles L. Pendleton 04.192

An oval porcelain white salt container with blue and gilded decorations.

Chinese (for export)

Pair of Trencher Salts, 1790–1800

Porcelain with underglaze blue, glaze, and gilding

Gift of Mrs. C. Oliver Iselin 58.024.19–20

An oval porcelain white salt container with blue and gilded decorations.

Chinese (for export)

Pair of Trencher Salts, 1790–1800

Porcelain with underglaze blue, glaze, and gilding

Gift of Mrs. C. Oliver Iselin 58.024.19–20

A silver salt spoon the bowl comes to a pointed tip, the neck is thin, and the handle is thicker and rounded at the end.

Henry L. Webster

American, active 1831–1864

Pair of Salt Spoons, ca. 1831–1841

Silver

Gift of Mrs. Murray S. Danforth 43.179.1–2

A silver salt spoon the bowl comes to a pointed tip, the neck is thin, and the handle is thicker and rounded at the end.

Henry L. Webster

American, active 1831–1864

Pair of Salt Spoons, ca. 1831–1841

Silver

Gift of Mrs. Murray S. Danforth 43.179.1–2