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SALTCELLAR, ONE OF TWO

Creator(s): Imperial Glass Manufactory (Manufacturer)

On view in: Russian Porcelain Room


About this object

This circular salt cellar has a bulging center, flaring base and a cut and polished rim. The base is decorated with a navy blue zig-zag pattern with brick red forms resembling the latin letter 'T' alternating above and below the zig-zag. A series of small white dots appears above this. The portion that bulges out the most is decorated with two thin gilt lines with a row of white enameled dots between. Above this is the motto "Eating food unsalted is like kissing an unpleasant person" in old Church Slavonic. The motto is painted in navy blue letters, with each initial letter in brick red. A number of white dots in a circular pattern mark the beginning and end of the motto. Above this is an additional two thin gilt lines with a row of white enameled dots between. The outermost edge of the rim is gilded.

Object name:
SALTCELLAR, ONE OF TWO
Made from:
Glass
Made in:
Saint Petersburg, Russia
Date made:
1882-1894
Size:
3.7 × 5.9 cm (1 7/16 × 2 5/16 in.)

Detailed information for this item

Catalog number:
23.108.2
Class:
GLASS
Signature marks:
MARK The initial A above three horizontal lines and below a crown, for Alexander III, all in thick white paint. [underside of the base] INSCRIPTION "Ne solono est', chto s ne milym tselovat'sia" [in Cyrillic, Old Church Slavonic; trans: To eat unsalted food is like kissing a mean/unpleasant person] [About the body]
Credit line:
Bequest of Marjorie Merriweather Post, 1973