How do you clean silver mustard pots?

Wash the silver body gently in warm soapy water. Never submerge the piece if it has a wooden base or felt bottom. Dry it immediately with a soft cotton cloth. Silver polish should only be used rarely when heavy tarnish develops.

Can I use antique salt cellars?

Yes, they are practical for modern dining. Just ensure the glass liner is intact before spooning in the salt. Always empty the salt out after the meal to prevent pitting.

I inherited a boxed set of four little silver pots from my grandmother and I was wondering if they originally had matching little spoons inside the box?

Cased sets often did include spoons when they left the silversmith. These small condiment ladles were held in dedicated slots cut into the velvet lining. Spoons are easily lost over the decades. Families frequently used them for other tasks, meaning many surviving cased sets now have empty slots or mismatched replacements. Finding period-correct spoons to fill the gaps is a common task. Dealers often keep a box of loose salt spoons for this exact purpose.

My pepper caster has a lid that is really tight and hard to get off to refill it, is there a trick to loosening it safely?

Silver is soft and deforms easily. Prying a tight lid with a tool will warp the metal and ruin the rim. Try holding the base in one hand and gently rocking the cap back and forth. Sometimes a tiny drop of mineral oil applied to the seam helps ease the friction on a stubborn fit.

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Antique Silver Condiments from the 19th Century

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Antique silver condiments encompass a diverse range of small dining accessories, from open salt cellars to lidded mustard pots, originally designed to present and dispense spices at the formal dining table.