Deakin & Francis | Sterling Silver Open Salt | Birmingham | 1938

Deakin & Francis | Sterling Silver Open Salt | Birmingham | 1938

Salt once had its own place at the table, and its own small silver vessel to hold it.

With a business history tracing back to 1786, Deakin & Francis became an established name in Birmingham silver. In the interwar years the firm made a steady line of table silver, including cruet pieces like this one. This salt is believed to have formed part of a cruet set with a matching mustard pot and a second salt, both also in stock.

The salt has a plain drum body with a flared rim, a reeded band at the lower body and a spreading reeded foot, the same form as the mustard pot. A turned wooden liner sits within the silver body, separating its contents from the metal. The underside is fully hallmarked for Deakin & Francis, Birmingham.

Good condition, with minor damage to the foot rim and a few small salt stains to the interior base. No pitting is present. The wooden liner is as acquired; whether it is original is not known.

Key Details

• Maker: Deakin & Francis
• Hallmarks: Birmingham, date letter O; attributed to 1938–39
• Form: open salt with flared rim, reeded band and spreading foot
• Material: sterling silver, with turned wooden liner
• Dimensions: diameter 5.5 cm; height 3.6 cm
• Weight: silver 35 g; liner 17 g
• Condition: good; minor damage to the foot rim; small salt stains inside, no pitting
• Companion pieces: a matching Deakin & Francis mustard pot and a second open salt, believed to have formed part of the same cruet set, are available separately
• Buyer profile: collectors of English condiment silver, or anyone reassembling a 1930s cruet

Collector Appeal

Open salts were often made in pairs or as part of larger cruet services, making the survival of associated pieces particularly appealing. This example bears clear Deakin & Francis marks and retains the restrained reeded form of its companion mustard pot. It may be collected individually or reunited with the other pieces offered separately.

Salt once marked who sat above and who sat below; by the time this cup was made, it had a place beside everyone.