Edwardian Condiment Set
An edwardian condiment set brings matching polish and purpose to the table through coordinated silver, silver plate, and cut glass.
Edwardian Condiment Set
An edwardian condiment set encompasses coordinated table wares designed to hold salt, pepper, mustard, and oils during formal meals. Cruet frames holding multiple glass bottles sit alongside cased sets of sterling silver salts and peppers.
The most common examples on this page are silver plated frames fitted with cut glass bottles or multi-piece sterling silver cruet combinations from the early twentieth century. These pieces reflect the structured dining customs of the period through matched spoons, liners, and stands.
Materials and Techniques
Silversmiths combined sterling silver and silver plate with heavy cut glass, often utilising cranberry flashed glass and blue glass liners. Frames feature pierced metalwork alongside cast novelty forms shaped as animals.
Cased sets relied on internal fittings lined in silk and velvet to protect individual spoons, salt cellars, and mustard pots during storage and presentation.
Birds and beasts populate the table when dining alongside solid silver novelty chick and owl pepperettes.
Craftsmanship and Completeness
Quality rests upon the preservation of the matched set and the clarity of the cut glass bottles. Complete sets retaining their original fitted presentation cases or correct spoons demonstrate higher manufacturing care.
Substantial weight in the silver plate, crisp piercing on mustard pots, and detailed casting on novelty animal cruets separate standard production items from finer workshop output.
Goldsmith & Silversmith's·Walker & Hall·Bricks & Sons·Sampson Mordan·Elkington·Charles Horner·Ashbury
The Edwardian Condiment Set Glossary
- Cruet set
- A matched collection of bottles, castors, or jars mounted in a metal stand for table condiments.
- Salt cellar
- An open vessel used to hold table salt before the invention of the shaker.
- Silver plate
- A layer of silver fused to a base metal core such as copper or Britannia metal.
- Cranberry glass
- Transparent red glass produced by adding gold chloride to the molten batch during manufacture.
- Novelty pepper
- A condiment pot shaped to resemble an animal, figure, or object rather than a standard shaker.
Edwardian Condiment Set: Frequently Asked Questions
What is included in an edwardian condiment set?
These sets typically contain a combination of salt cellars, mustard pots, and pepper shakers accompanied by matching spoons.
Larger configurations incorporate silver plated stands fitted with multiple cut glass cruet bottles for oil, vinegar, and sauces.
How were these sets used on the table?
Condiment sets were placed centrally or at intervals along dining tables to allow guests to season their food during formal meals.
Open salt cellars required small spoons for portioning salt, while pierced pots dispensed ground pepper.
How do I care for silver plated condiment sets?
Silver plate requires gentle cleaning with a soft cloth and specialised silver polish to maintain the shine without wearing away the coating.
Glass inserts and liners should be washed separately in warm soapy water and dried thoroughly before returning them to metal frames.
How can I tell if a set is period Edwardian?
Examine the pieces for hallmarks, registry numbers, and maker marks that correspond to early twentieth-century British silversmiths.
Stylistic cues such as pierced gallery work and cranberry cut glass further indicate the manufacturing aesthetic of the era.