Salt Cellar
1625/75
Medium
Ivory
Dimensions
10.5 × 8.6 × 3.2 cm (4 1/8 × 3 3/8 × 1 1/4 in.)
Classification
saltcellar
Department
Applied Arts of Europe
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
110316
Rights
Public Domain
About this artwork
This elaborately decorated salt holder, crafted from precious materials, once graced the tables at lavish European banquets and, at the same time, served a useful function. Indeed, this work is a proper tribute to salt, a highly desirable commodity that made perishable food more palatable and was also a sign of great wealth.
About the Artist
Unknown
The artist designated as "Unknown" in our virtual museum's collection exemplifies a poignant chapter in art history: creators whose identities have faded into obscurity despite the enduring power of their work. With only one known artwork attributed to them in our holdings, this figure represents countless anonymous hands that shaped visual culture across centuries. Museums worldwide, including th...