Hall marks on gold & silver plate

liv INTRODUCTION.
^^
Staniintg Salts.
Where is the salt; where are the hospitable tables?''^
PoTTEK, " Antiquities of Greece," B. iii, c. 21.
Vessels to contain salt played an important part in the economy
of the house in the Middle Ages, the great standing salt marking the
line between the higher and lower guests at the table.
The earliest salts are shaped like hour-glasses, and are sometimes
with and sometimes without covers. At Corpus Christi College
and New College, Oxford, and a few other places, there are
specimens of this type, which were all made towards the end of the
fifteenth century.
In the sixteenth century the type changed to a cylindrical form,
richly ornamented with repousse work, and covered with a lid. Of
this pattern is the fine standing salt at Corpus Christi College,
Oxford, which was made in 1554. There is also a good standing
salt belonging to the Corporation of Norwich. It is of silver gilt,
15 J inches high, cylindrical in shape, and the cover is surmounted
by a statuette resting on a spear, with a shield bearing the city arms;
the date of it is 1 567-8. At Portsmouth there is, with the Corporation
plate, another fine standing salt, made in 161 5-6, with
cylindrical body, having a bowl for salt at the top, then three
brackets supporting a second bowl, and three more brackets supporting
a cover, which is surmounted by a three-cornered ornamental
spike.* Standing salts of this period are also found of square
form, and in appearance more like caskets than salts. Such a salt
is that belonging to the Vintners' <strong>Hall</strong>, London, which is of silver
gilt, and a most beautiful specimen. Somewhat later the salt
assumed a bell shape, and it was sometimes divided into several
compartments, fitting one above another, in order to contain salt
and spices.
In the seventeenth century salts of more simple form came into
use, which were low and plain, sometimes circular, sometimes square,
and sometimes octagonal. Small trencher salts were also used;
these were circular or triangular, with a small depression in the
centre to contain the salt.
A very remarkable silver salt, made about 1698, is the exact
model of the original Eddystone lighthouse. This is made in
stories. The lower is large and empty, and appears to be made of
piles bound together; the next has a lid perforated for pepper, and
appears as if made of masonry ; the upper story is also made of
masonry, having a depression above to contain the salt; this is surrounded
by a gallery and surmounted by the lantern, which is
perforated for pounded sugar; above this again is scroll work, ter-
* "Corporation Plate," by LI. Jewitt and W. H. St. John Hope.