Lot 106
New World, probably Mexico, Spanish Colonial period, ca. 18th to early 19th century CE. A fantastic salt cellar, made from silver, most likely sterling, in the form of a prancing horse standing atop a platter. The platter is on four delicate, curved feet. The platter and feet are relatively simple in their design, reserving the details and attention for the horse. Cast with thin legs that give it a light, cheerful demeanor, the horse has beautiful details - large, well-realized eyes and carefully rendered fur, mane, and tail. On the horse's back is a saddle with a floral pattern on its blanket and an acorn-shaped hook on top of it; this serves to open the cavity of the cellar, which is the full interior of the horse. A tiny hinge is at the back of the saddle to allow it to be lifted and the salt to be accessed. Size: 7.75" L x 5.65" W x 6" H (19.7 cm x 14.4 cm x 15.2 cm); 1.05 kilograms.
Salt was an important centerpiece on any fine table during the Renaissance and Baroque periods, including the period of Spanish colonization in the New World, and people wished to display their wealth in the form of salt cellars to be displayed during fancy meals. As place settings became more complex from the 17th century onward, with plates and utensils multiplying rapidly for high society dinners, the salt cellar also evolved into a piece of decorative art like this one.
Provenance: private Salter collection, Santa Fe, New Mexico, USA
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#125666
- Condition: Light tarnish/patina, and some encrustation on underside, especially around the legs. Hinge still functional. Tiny area of paint on one of the horse's legs and small area of handwriting in black marker on the underside.
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