How do you clean the glass bottles?

Soak the bottles in warm water with a mild detergent. Avoid hot water, as old glass can crack with sudden temperature changes. Use a soft bottle brush to reach the bottom. If the stoppers are stuck, don't force them. A few drops of warm water around the rim often loosen the seal. Dry them upside down on a soft cloth. Ensure the insides are free of moisture before putting the stoppers back in.

A soy frame is a small stand holding just a few bottles. They were used for soy sauce and similar thin condiments. They became popular in the late eighteenth century as imported sauces grew fashionable. You'll often see them with two or three small cut-glass bottles. They sit neatly on smaller tables where a grand silver centrepiece would take up too much room.

I have a set where the silver frame is stamped but the glass bottles are plain, is it common for them to be mismatched?

Bottles get broken and replaced over a century of household use. It's rare to find an early frame still carrying its original suite of matching cut glass. Silversmiths did sell plain bottles for cheaper sets. However, highly decorated silver frames usually left the workshop with equally elaborate glass. If the fit is loose in the rings, they're likely later additions. Many dealers match up loose bottles with empty frames to make a usable set. As long as the glass sits securely in the recesses, the piece functions just fine.

Can you still use these sets for serving modern sauces and oils or should they just sit in a cabinet on display?

You can definitely use them. They were built for daily dining and still work well for modern oils and vinegars. Just avoid leaving acidic liquids in them for months on end. Wash the glass regularly and they'll serve your table for decades to come.

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Antique Cruet Sets

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Antique cruet sets consist of a metal or wooden stand holding small glass bottles. They sat in the centre of the dining table, allowing diners to season their food with oil and vinegar.