Salt Cellar Identification

Salt cellars hold salt crystals small containers.

Salt cellars, also called open salts or salt dips, are containers for loose salt crystals. When first invented, they were small, lidless bowls that typically contained little silver spoons to distribute salt over food.

History

Although the exact year the salt cellar was introduced is unclear, it was many centuries ago. DaVinci's famous painting depicting The Last Supper includes a salt cellar on the table. Salt was presented on dinner tables in a salt cellar passed from diner to diner, or in a salt mill that ground the large crystals like a pepper mill.

Current Use

After salt became commercially processed and fine enough to sift through the holes on salt shaker in the 19th century, salt cellars on dining tables became scarce. Chefs currently use them in kitchens where they make pinching a bit of salt for recipes convenient and handy. Most modern salt cellars have lids.

Collector Salt Cellars

Many salt cellars are currently manufactured for collectors, usually in brightly colored cut glass. Some are made from antique molds that were popular in past centuries and others are contemporary designs.

References

• GearLive.com: Salt Cellar Identification
• OpenSalts.info: Salt Cellar Identification