What is an open salt?

An open salt is a small vessel designed to hold salt on the dining table before shaker bottles became common. Diners used tiny spoons to sprinkle the salt onto their food. These pieces required protective glass liners inside the silver framework to prevent the salt from corroding the metal over time.

How do I use them today?

Modern homes use open salts as individual table salt cellars, or repurpose them to hold small items like rings and pins on a dressing table. They also serve as decorative vessels in display cabinets. Placing them on a dining table adds historical character and a tactile element to dinner parties.

How were salt cellars made?

Silversmiths shaped solid silver and sterling silver through casting, hammering, and raising techniques. They added decorative flair using hand chasing, piercing, and repoussé work. Many examples feature gilt interiors to protect the silver from the corrosive properties of table salt.

What are glass liners for?

Glass liners act as a protective barrier between the corrosive salt and the silver body of the cellar. They dropped neatly inside pierced or solid silver bowls. Finding a salt cellar with its original blue glass liner intact enhances the completeness of the piece.

How do I date these pieces?

Dating relies heavily on hallmarks stamped into the silver, which record the assay office, date letter, and maker's mark. Stylistic clues such as rococo curves or geometric Art Deco lines also point to specific eras. Georgian pieces typically display heavier casting, while Victorian items often embrace naturalistic floral and animal motifs.

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Antique Solid Silver Salts

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These antique solid silver salts bring functional elegance to the table, offering master craftsmanship and tactile weight that elevate any dining setting.