Cruets and Casters   

In the days when keeping food fresh was a problem, spices such as pepper, nutmeg and cinnamon were used to enhance or disguise the taste of it. These were usually held in casters, so-called because they cast their contents over the food.

Since the early 18th century, the shape of the caster has scarcely altered. The early cylindrical and baluster shapes come with bayonet-type covers. These have two flaps that fit through wire at the rim and are turned to hold the lid in place. Octagonal examples appear in the reign of George I and after this time covers have bezels sitting inside the caster bodies.

Before about 1780 casters often came in sets of three: one with a large piercing for crushed loaf sugar; one for pepper and a third for other spices, or for dry mustard. In the latter case the caster would have a "blind" cover, without piercing. After about 1780 casters came singly or in pairs.

18thC casters are usually marked in a group under the base. Some 18thC and 19thC examples are marked in a line on the side of the body.
Top of Page

Framed cruets are found from about 1700. These usually comprise two bottles for oil and vinegar and three casters, all held by a silver, or Warwick, frame. The modern style mustard pot appears from about l760. These usually have blue glass liners and are often pierced.

Mustard pots are marked in a group on the base, in a line on the body or in a curve round the base
Top of Page

A large circular saltcellar with gadrooned lip, fluted body on 3 anthemion feet with gilt interior by Adey, Bellamy and Savory, London 1830.
Image courtesy of Schredds of Portobello
 
From the early 18th century salt was kept in pairs of salt cellars. In the mid-18th century most are on three feet. The exceptions are trenchers, the common form at the start of the period, and some that were made at the end of the 18th and early 19th century. It was usual to gild the inside of salts to resist corrosion. Some very elaborate salts were made in Regency and Victorian times.

From the mid 18thC, salts are marked in a group on the base or in a line on the body.