Add panache to your culinary presentations with antique saltcellars, perfect as a nod to the past or for serving up modern charm.
Saltcellars are making a return to tables across the South, and those who use them are definitely thinking outside the box. Also called salts or salt boxes, vintage and antique saltcellars come in all sizes, shapes, and forms, including porcelain, crystal, wood, and precious metals.
The saltcellar’s heyday came in the 18th and 19th centuries, when the silhouettes mirrored fanciful European styles. Etiquette of the time required that saltcellars be within an elbow’s-length reach and at least one dispenser sit between guests, spawning a boom in production. But their popularity declined in 1911, when Morton Salt added an ingredient to keep table salt free of lumps. That’s when saltshakers with a perforated lid took center stage.
A recent resurgence of dining well at home is bringing these collectors’ items out of the cupboard. Antique saltcellars and their tiny silver serving spoons also accommodate today’s popular salt flakes, which won’t pass through the holes of a traditional shaker. In addition, you can use them for new tasks like holding sugar substitute, hot sauce, nuts, herbs, and whatever your imagination conjures.
To learn more about the history of saltcellars and ways to use them today, read the full Keepsakes story in our October 2021 issue.
Styling by Lily Simpson
Photography by Steve Rizzo
Discover inspiring style ideas, seasonal recipes, and more by ordering your Southern Lady subscription today!
