Victorian silver plate Salt & Pepper Shaker Set by Viking Silver Plate (electro-plate) in a full floral repousse design with the important Viking silverplate touchmark on the bases.
Both the salt shaker and matching pepper shaker are in extremely good condition, clean inside, with only the salt shaker showing some very minor surface pitting on the floral repousse screw-on top and a bit along the top of the shaker itself.
Both pieces are deeply designed in a floral repousse, with roses and multi-pedal flowers easily distinguished in the design. The silver pepper shaker has the smaller holes in the top, the salt shaker, the larger holes.
For centuries, condiments were necessary because of the lack of refrigeration. Even when used expediently, meat sometimes had begun to spoil by the time it reached the dinner table. Spices, vinegars and oils were used to hid the pungency of the spoiling meat. In addition, salt and pepper on food were an absolute necessity at the Victorian table. Abe offers an array of antique silver plate items made for serving these condiments, ranging from fabulous silverplated cruet sets to various salt and pepper receptacles.
The basic condiment set began with salt and pepper servers. Next, a mustard jar would be added. Other containers, called cruets, were then added in various sizes. These were generally used for a variety of vinegars and oils. Another serving piece was the muffineer, a caster that held sugar or any other condiment meant to be sprinkled onto foods.
Salt was usually served in open containers, sometimes referred to as a salt cellar or salt stand. Some salt containers had glass liners to help prevent the corrosion that begins when silver and salt come in contact with each other.
Mustard was an important condiment, warranting its own server. At the time that mustard pots were in favor (probably from the 1840s on), dry mustard powder was mixed with water to make a mustard paste, as prepared mustard in its modern glass or plastic jar was not yet available until the early 1900s. Mustard is extremely corrosive to sterling and silverplate, causing a chemical reaction which results in heavy discoloration of the silver. Many mustard pots have glass liners to prevent this. Gold can also be used to provide a barrier. many old mustard ladles were gold-washed on the lower portion where the silver would have touched the mustard.
No silverplate loss or wear is noted on either shaker, both are clean and ready to use! One shaker does have a bit of corrosion around the neck, but it is difficult to discern when the top is one. This is one of the most ornate Victorian era salt & pepper shaker sets available, measuring 3.25" high, 2" in diameter and combined weighing of a beefy 11.5 ounces.
Touchmarked on the base with VIKING EP lead and the pattern number "C5" on the bottom of each shaker. You can read more about the history of Viking Silverplate at our Silver Manufacturers pages.
A1784 - Victorian Silverplate Repousse Salt & Pepper Shaker Set - VIKING SILVER PLATE
$75.00
