The circular salts, with three feet, belong to the early George III period. The feet in these are in hoof form with cone-shaped terminals (see illustration, p. 165).
The early George III period exhibits other varieties of the salt cellar. There was the wire-work cellar with cast additions, and the pierced and cut sheet silver. Most of these types are oblong in shape and were designed to receive a glass liner. These specimens are usually with four feet. The example dated 1769 is of wire work. The other example adjacent with floral wreath, dated 1785, is in the French style, which became prevalent at the last quarter of the eighteenth century. The feet of these examples are usually claw-and-ball or lion’s paw feet. It may be interesting to note the contemporary styles of the chair maker. The same influences were at work governing the worker in wood and the craftsman in metal.
Feet with hoof-shaped and cone-shaped terminals.
(_By courtesy of Messrs. Elkington & Co._)]
[Illustration: SALTS WITH GLASS LINER AND FOUR FEET.
Floral wreaths and chain period in French style.
Wire work with cast additions and pierced and cut sheet silver.]
[Illustration: CIRCULAR SALT WITH THREE FEET. OBLONG SALT WITH FOUR FEET.
(_By courtesy of Messrs. Elkington & Co._)]
The cloven-hoof foot or the club terminal are found in the round shaped salt cellar in the same period or slightly later. Usually this type is found with three feet. This plain form dispenses with the glass liner.
Towards the close of the eighteenth century the styles become varied. There is the tureen form, from which type many variations are based. Similarly the boat-shaped salt is typical of many similar plain designs of this nature--some with two handles.
The examples illustrated (p. 171), in vogue from 1781 to 1797, show the generic type from which similar forms deviate.
As in the above types the swelling foot is a feature, so with other examples, from 1789 to 1803, the foot disappears. The piece in date 1789, illustrated (p. 171), may be compared with similar circular forms made by the Staffordshire potters in lustreware for cottage use.
The washing-tub shaped salt cellar, in date 1803, indicates the decadence of design. The opening years of the nineteenth century show these poor forms in replacement of the early designs.