I am starting a new series called “Salt Cellar Spotlight”. There are so many different salt cellars with seemingly endless opportunities for creating. I thought it would be interesting to highlight the salt cellars and a few details. I hope you find it interesting too!

SALT CELLAR SPOTLIGHT

Name of Salt Cellar: Tapered shape prism cut¹
Size: 1 3/4″
Manufacturer: Unknown and difficult to pinpoint due to cut glass being made by the artist with slight alterations creating thousands of different patterns¹.
Year Produced: Unable to pinpoint since manufacturer is not identified but consensus dates production between 1880-1920 and most likely around the turn of the 20th century¹.
Interesting Salt Fact: Sodium and chloride are the chemicals combined together that we refer to as table salt. Sodium is required for human bodies to adequately function².
Interesting Historical Fact (turn of 20th century): Scott Joplin wrote The Entertainer. I learned to play this iconic piece of piano music in my youth. NPR has an interesting article about Scott Joplin.

This humble little salt cellar was the catalyst for bringing together fabric, glass, and painted china. I was thrifting and came across three small porcelain dishes. I did not have an immediate plan for the dishes, but I liked their size and design.

I was currently working with Sharon Holland’s Kismet fabric made by Art Gallery Fabrics. I kept the dishes close by for inspiration which came when I was using with the Cut Flowers print. Cut Flowers has assorted coloring as well as soft whimsical lines that match the hand painted Royal Winton china. I made a pincushion in both colorways, Fortune and Favor, to see which one I liked best.

Adding gold elements including a gold button, gold thread, and a gold bead, helps tie the pincushion together with the painted dish. 

To me, these little dishes are useful in so many work spaces. For sewing, they can be a catchall for multiple small sewing necessities. I enjoy giving new life to these dishes in a sewing space by repurposing them. Additionally, pairing the art of the china with the art of the fabric is a pleasurable and challenging process.

Happy quilting and crafting! ▶︎ ▶︎ ▶︎

Bibliography

1. Heacock, William and Johnson, Patricia. 1982. 5,000 Open Salts, A Collector’s Guide. Marietta: Antique Publications. 

2. Medline Plus. Sodium. April 2, 2015.