SALTS, CASTERS AND CRUETS

In the past, salt was valuable and kept in elaborate containers. Beautiful medieval salts rarely appear on the market, but early 18th-century trencher salts are still quite common. These are small oval, circular or oblong salt cellars with a dished centre. However, most are now in poor condition as they were generally made from thin sheet silver; a perfect pair could fetch £700-£800. By the 1730s most salt cellars were shaped like round cauldrons, with three shell-and-hoof feet and a moulded or gadrooned rim. These are readily available for £300-£500 a pair, or £500-£800 for the rarer oval type with four feet. Victorian cauldron salts with chased or applied decoration make £600-£300 a pair.

In the late r8th century, oval salts on pedestal feet became fashionable. They now sell for £400-£500 a pair. Most have bright- cut friezes and simple bead or reed rims. This form was soon superseded by pierced and bright-cut oval salts with ‘Bristol’ blue glass liners and shell or ball-and-claw feet. Many are now in poor condition, but a perfect pair might fetch £300-£500.

As with most silver tableware, the Regency period saw the introduction of much heavier pieces. Such salts, often in silver-gilt with cut-glass liners and applied cast masks, rims and feet of great quality, are justifiably popular today, often costing even more than their earlier counterparts. The same applies to Victorian copies of earlier styles. However, numerous small, machine-stamped and rolled salts were also produced in the 19th century, including shell designs on dolphin bases. These are light and easily damaged, so they sell for as little as £60-£80 a pair.

Antique Collection

Pepper and spice casters sell very well today. The early ‘lighthouse’ form with straight sides and domed top originated in France and was made in Britain from about 1670. Today they sell for about £1500-£2500, but later types are cheaper at £200-£300. By the early 18th century, they were usually baluster shaped, with a lid that simply slides into place and a cast circular base. Octagonal casters that catch the light were also popular. After 1750 casters were made from lighter, machine-rolled silver. Most were decorated with beading or reeding, and had spiral-fluted or acorn-shaped finials. Most Victorian and later casters copy earlier pieces, but some novelty examples were produced, including a suffragette holding Bakelite placards.

By the mid- 18th century, mustard was served ready-mixed, usually in drum-shaped pots with glass liners. These pots are still made, although many later examples suffer from a wealth of stamped decoration. In the late Georgian period, vase-shaped mustard pots on a domed base became popular, replaced in about 1810 by clumsy oblong examples on ball feet. Antique mustard pots fetch £300-£500 or more, depending on age, style and condition. Victorian anthropomorphic specimens are particularly popular. Those by the Hennell family of London, modelled as owls, monkeys, pigs and even kangaroos, can make £ 1 000-£1500.

Cruet sets with bottles and casters fitting into a frame date from the reign of Queen Anne. Today, they are relatively inexpensive. Although ‘Warwick’ cruets may reach £2500-£3000, later examples can still be found for £400-£800. Warwick cruets have a cinquefoil base and scroll feet, and generally hold two silver-topped glass bottles for oil and vinegar and three casters. Similar, but smaller cruets hold only two bottles. Most have openwork frames, but others have tall sides hand-pierced with arabesques.

Much lighter cruets appeared in the late 18th century. Boat-shaped examples, with eight or ten bottles, were also quite common. Victorian cruets are large and flamboyant, with applied decoration of flowers and foliage. After about 1850 most were oblong or square.

NAPKIN RINGS AND PLACE MARKERS

The Victorians were the first to fold napkins for table decoration, and used silver rings originally sold in sets engraved with numbers or initials. But by the mid-19th century these had become popular christening presents and were sold singly. Although plated American novelty pieces — for example, rings modelled as children, chariots or tiny vases — may fetch £100-£200 in the United States, plainer silver rings are cheaper at £15-£20. There is little demand for napkin clips — tiny hooks designed to hold a napkin firmly in place — and they can be found for a few pounds.

Prices have soared recently for sets of Victorian and later silver place markers (which can double as menu holders). Most popular are those cast as birds or animals, or with enamelled discs showing sporting or nautical vignettes. These can bring as much as £400-£600 for a set of four — although quality and styles vary enormously. You may find singles for as little as £30-£50.

MAINLY FOR SHOW

Table centrepieces, or epergnes, were used from the mid- 18th century to display crysal-lised fruit, sugared almonds and other sweetmeats. Early versions are enormously heavy, with cast scroll legs and branches supporting dishes and candle sockets. By about 1760 the bowls were usually pierced with arabesques, and many epergnes also show the influence of Chippendale’s Chinese designs in pagoda tops with tiny bells. By the 1780s, epergnes were much lighter and Neoclassical in style. Heavy centrepieces, often gilt to match dessert flatware, reappeared in the Regency period. Most had cut-glass bowls, now usually missing or broken. From about 1830, natura, listic epergnes modelled with trees, rocks and figures were the fashion, and at the end of the century Neoclassical reproductions.

Despite their size, centrepieces are popular with serious collectors. George II examples may sell for over £50,000, and Neoclassical for £15,000-£25,000. Regency and Victorian specimens sell for £6000-£r o,000, or more if they have a stand or plateau with inset mirrored base. Even readily available plated versions can sell for £ 1000-£2000.

Vases and rose bowls were popular from the late 19th century. Many are in lightweight silver with machine-stamped decoration.

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