Paris 1787 – Pair of Louis XVI Period Covered Salt Cellars in Solid Silver

Rare pair of late 18th century covered salt cellars in 958/1000 solid silver and blue crystal.

Of oval form, each opens by means of a moulded domed cover richly decorated with a radiating pattern of gadroons against a finely matted ground, highlighted by beaded borders, cords and acanthus leaves, and surmounted by an elegant pear-shaped finial.

The body is adorned with a delicate pierced gallery of balusters punctuated by quatrefoils. Oval medallions suspended from crossed ribbons enliven the principal faces, while the upper and lower sections display a discreet matted decoration that enhances the refinement of the workmanship. The medallions remain unengraved.

The ensemble rests on four tapering feet terminating in ball feet, lending the composition a remarkable visual lightness.

Each salt cellar retains its removable cobalt-blue crystal liner.

Hallmarks (covers and bodies)
• Paris discharge mark with leaf and numeral 4, allowing precise dating to the year 1787 under the tax farm of Jean-François KALENDRIN.
• Small Head of Liberty re-assay mark, applied from 19 June 1798 during the inspection of silver wares produced prior to the French Revolution.

Matching assembly marks between bodies and covers.

Bodies, covers and finials all hallmarked.

Dimensions
• Height: 7.8 cm (3.07 in.)
• Width: 8.4 cm (3.31 in.)
• Depth: 5.6 cm (2.20 in.)

Silver weight: 148 g (4.76 troy oz.)

Condition report:
This elegant pair of covered salt cellars remains in remarkably complete condition. A few old restorations are visible at the cover attachments, without affecting either the presentation or the structural integrity of the pieces. No losses or later replacements are noted.

The quality of execution, the refinement of the piercing and the richness of the decoration attest to particularly accomplished Parisian craftsmanship from the closing years of the reign of Louis XVI. Precisely dated to 1787 by their discharge mark, these salt cellars constitute an elegant testament to Parisian table silver on the eve of the French Revolution.


During the eighteenth century, covered salt cellars ranked among the most refined forms of table silver. Intended to contain and protect a commodity that remained highly valuable, they occupied a privileged place within the services of the great aristocratic households. Their sophistication reflects the importance attached to the art of dining in the aristocratic residences of the late Ancien Régime. Comparable examples are now preserved in several public collections, notably at the Smithsonian National Museum of American History (inv. DL.60.2216).