19th Century Blue John English master salt vase

Carved in England in the 19th Century, this fine vase is entirely made of the semi-precious stone known as Blue John, which was first discovered over two thousand years ago by the Roman in England. The origin of the name 'Blue John' is believed to have come from the French 'blue et jaune', meaning 'blue and yellow', which was though have been later abbreviated to 'Blue John'. Steeped in rich history, Blue John has been displayed in stately homes throughout the country for centuries, made world famous by the craftsmanship of Mathew Boulton in the late 18th century. The present vase was used as Master Salt, the large receptacle from which the smaller, distributed, salt dishes were filled.