salt cellar, unknown maker from England, United Kingdom or the United States

Artwork Overview

salt cellar
salt cellar
salt cellar
1850s
salt cellar , 1850s
Where object was made: United States or England, United Kingdom
Material/technique: cut; pressed glass
Dimensions:
Object Height/Diameter (Height x Diameter): 8 x 7.5 cm
Object Height/Diameter (Height x Diameter): 3 1/8 x 2 15/16 in
Credit line: William Bridges Thayer Memorial
Accession number: 1928.6173
On display: Stewart Gallery
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Images

Label texts

Intersections

Salt is vital to survival and the scarcity of naturally occurring salt deposits led to it becoming a popular trade commodity. Some of the earliest and most prominent salt trade routes traversed inhospitable landscapes from Morocco, through the Sahara Desert, and on to Timbuktu. Others linked Egypt, the Aegean, and the Mediterranean with the Libyan Desert. Salt was so valuable it was used as currency, traded ounce for ounce with gold in parts of Africa.

Intersections

Salt is vital to survival and the scarcity of naturally occurring salt deposits led to it becoming a popular trade commodity. Some of the earliest and most prominent salt trade routes traversed inhospitable landscapes from Morocco, through the Sahara Desert, and on to Timbuktu. Others linked Egypt, the Aegean, and the Mediterranean with the Libyan Desert. Salt was so valuable it was used as currency, traded ounce for ounce with gold in parts of Africa.

Exhibitions

Glass from the Spencer Museum Collection
James O. Smith, curator
John Wilson, curator
1990–1991
Civic Leader and Art Collector: Sallie Casey Thayer and an Art Museum for KU
Celka Straughn, curator
2017–2018
Intersections
Cassandra Mesick Braun, curator
2022–2027
Intersections
Cassandra Mesick Braun, curator
2022–2027

Resources

Links

Learn more about the history of salt.