A salt cellar is an article of tableware for holding and dispensing salt. In British English, the term can be used for what in North American English are called salt shakers. Salt cellars can be either lidded or open, and are found in a wide range of sizes, from large shared vessels to small individual dishes. Styles range from simple to ornate or whimsical, using materials including glass and ceramic, metals, ivory and wood, and plastic.
An English glass salt cellar, circa 1720
Black-glaze salt cellar. Terracotta, 5th century BC, Athens.
Cellini's Salt Cellar, made for Francis I of France, 1540–1543. Gold, partly enameled, with an ebony base. Depicts Earth and Sea personified.
Formal place setting for a 12 course dinner; individual salt cellar at top of place setting
Tableware items are the dishware and utensils used for setting a table, serving food, and dining. The term includes cutlery, glassware, serving dishes, serving utensils, and other items used for practical as well as decorative purposes. The quality, nature, variety and number of objects varies according to culture, religion, number of diners, cuisine and occasion. For example, Middle Eastern, Indian or Polynesian food culture and cuisine sometimes limits tableware to serving dishes, using bread or leaves as individual plates, and not infrequently without use of cutlery. Special occasions are usually reflected in higher quality tableware.
Formal dining table laid for a large private dinner party at Chatsworth House
Table laid for six at the Royal Castle, Warsaw, (18th–19th century fashion)
Historic pewter, faience and glass tableware
Food served on a banana leaf in Karnataka, India