ROUEN FAIENCE SALT CELLAR.
Early eighteenth century. Height 3 in.
(In collection of author.)
Contemporary with the silversmith’s work it is interesting to notice in passing what the potter was doing. We illustrate ([p. 161]) a Lambeth delft salt cellar of the late seventeenth century. Its height is only 4¹/₂ inches. It simulates the silver style. The guards or handles are more shell-like in form than those of the silversmith. The technique of the potter with his twisting of the plastic clay is responsible of this. But the furniture maker of the period has something to add, too, in regard to this form of ornament. In his technique it is termed the “Spanish foot.” It appears in feet and in the scrolls of handles for chairs.
A salt cellar of Rouen faience is illustrated ([p. 161]) of the early eighteenth century. In height this is 3 inches. It shows the square form, with slight depressed surface at apex for the salt, as though the salt were a rare commodity. It is interesting, and should help the student to cast his eyes farther afield in attempting to arrive at conclusions in regard to definite styles.
Of Trencher salts there is much to say. All that is not poetry is prose, as Monsieur Jourdain found out. A salt may be Standing—that is, it may be a ceremonial piece demanding the ritual of its order—or it may be a mere trencher salt; the name indicates its usage. Instead of being among the great folk, it was among the dependents at the lower stratum of the table. Trencher salts were once menial in the earlier periods, but as time went on the great standing salt disappeared and trencher salts became general for gentle and simple.
Throughout the eighteenth century, from Queen Anne to George IV (1820), and in succeeding years the salts were all trencher salts—because there were none other.
In the early days trencher salts were associated with servility or with dependence, but later the salt at the elbow of the master of the feast carried with it nothing derogatory.
From Queen Anne, 1702, to the end of the reign of George I, 1727, little difference is noticeable and the lowly trencher salt changes very slightly. It is oblong or it becomes octagonal. But in practical form it is substantially the same. Two specimens exhibiting this are given ([p. 165]).
The circular salts, with three feet, belong to the early George III period. The feet in these are in hoof form with cone-shaped terminals (see illustration, [p. 165]).