“Cleopatra’s Needle” salt shaker

“Cleopatra’s Needle” salt shaker , probably after 1877

Where object was made: England, United Kingdom

Material/technique: pewter

Dimensions:
Object Height/Width (Height x Width): 10.2 x 4.3 cm
Object Height/Width (Height x Width): 4 x 1 11/16 in

Credit line: William Bridges Thayer Memorial

Accession number: 1928.1174

On display: Stewart Gallery

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Black pepper is native to southwestern India and has long been the world’s most traded spice. Archaeological evidence reveals that it was used in ancient Egypt and was widely trafficked in the ancient Roman and Islamic spice trades. By the Middle Ages, black pepper was a valuable culinary item in Europe. The high prices prompted the Portuguese to seek a sea route to India ushering in the so-called “Age of Discovery” and European colonization on a global scale.

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Empire of Things

In Ancient Egypt, obelisks were large monuments commonly found near the entrance of temples. Obelisks continue to be popular today. Examples include the Washington Monument in Washington, D.C., and the three Cleopatra’s Needles, a set of Egyptian obelisks re-erected in London, Paris, and New York. This salt shaker resembles the Cleopatra’s Needle in London.