A Message from Ruth at Antiques And Teacups

Welcome to the blog of Antiques And Teacups! Let's share a cup of tea and talk about the things we love...like teacups, antiques, collectibles, visiting England, antiquing and learning about victoriana and quirky gadgets. Fun!

Monday, January 13, 2020

January Things, Country Diary, Open Salts


Well, nearly the last of the Christmas goodies...


My Emma Bridgewater Robin in a Snow Storm mug will be around for a few more months before hiding in the closet for a few months.
It was a gift a few years ago, and we LOVE English Robins!


This is an annual holiday addition to the house... Walker's Ginger Royals Shortbread.We love shortbread, dark chocolate and ginger, so... a winner!


They are a bit rich, so good thing we usually only get them this time of year!


And I haven't shared from Country Diary Of An Edwardian Lady yet this month...


I love the January page with the Blue Tits... another favorite English bird...




Lately I have been getting to, listing and selling quite a few open salts, salt cellars or salt dishes lately on Antiques And Teacups


So...where do you park you chewing gum at night?????
Your rings bedside?
Your teabag in the kitchen???


If you are looking for a stylish receptacle, try an antique open salt, salt dip or salt cellar. This little cutie above is from Canada, or so the authors of the great open salt reference book 5,000 Open Salts: A Collector's Guide by Wm Heacock and Patricia Johnson inform us. This little salt was made around 1900. Cute for being so old...and in great shape, too!!! I should be in such shape at over 100 years old!!!



This is a great reference book, and it is almost impossible to find such comprehensive information online, so good, old style guides are a must really!


I've been talking and answering questions about affordable collectibles lately, and open salts definitely fit that category. They are small, still practical and useable and pretty affordable as collections go. The above pair of luster oval open salts is from Noritake, Japan from the 1930s...


Open salts really came into their own during the Victorian era, when gadgets and accessories were all the rage. This set of cut glass salts dates to 1920s, and are considered art deco...


This set above is an English Victorian era cut crystal set we recently sold...


This blue and white Blue Onion porcelain double salt is from the 1940s and comes from Czechoslovakia...
And that is part of the fun of open salts, because they have been made in almost every material imagineable... from rock crystal, cut glass and moded or pressed glass to wood, hotn, all metals, pottery, and basically, you name a material, there was an open salt made!


And lots of fun figural salts... like this Bird And Berry which was made by McKee Glass in the 1890s, and then reproduced in the 1960s from the same molds. The only way you can tell, is by the colors basically.


Lots of various transferware patterns as well. Almost all complete dinner sets from the late Victorian era until the 1940s included open salts.


Open salts were also popular in combinations of materials... like this 1930s Arr Deco set with cobalt glass liners and silver plated holders I recently sold.


Anyway, open salts can be used as a place to park your gum, a place for your rings or for a bit of sauce at the dinner table. They also make great teabag holders. As I'm a fan of tea, that's a definite plus!


Hope you are enjoying Hot Tea Month! I am, but that's nothing new!
Raising a cuppa!

7 comments:

  1. Your info on open salts is really interesting. I'll have to find one of those identification books as my mom has several little antique dishes that she thought were candle holders. I didn't think votive candles were a thing in Victorian times but we couldn't decide what they were for. I finished The Secret Garden a couple days ago. It features a sweet robin, too!

    Blessings,
    Mrs. Sarah Coller

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  2. This is the first time I've heard of open salts. Interesting!

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  3. Great post as ever!Your Facebook is amazing too,so many beauties!Happy New Year!

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  4. Victorians had such great gadgets! The UK does have the best birds, and shortbread too.

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  5. Ruth, I use something similar to the double salt you show. I prefer it to salt and pepper shakers. Love your bird photos, too!

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  6. I really enjoyed this post, especially about the salt cellars. Many years ago at an antique show, I bought one with a sweet miniature spoon. Also the Diary book looks lovely.
    Blessings, Linda

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  7. I love open salts and have several - I especially like the little spoons!

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