Chinese Polychrome Salt Cellars Circa 1900-Set of Three

A trio of small hand-crafted and hand-painted salts with designs of peonies and prunus blossoms.

 

The small, molded porcelain boxes with lids were used to hold salt at the table. The bases are square and have matching lids that were painted with colorful polychrome enamels in designs of flowers. The edges of the lids have been coated with iron red. They have shallow unglazed foot rings with the word CHINA written in iron red is on the base of each salt.

 

MEASUREMENTS

 

1 ¼” (3.2 cm) long x 1 ¼” (3.2 cm) deep x 7/8” (2.2 cm) tall. Weighs 2.2 oz (60 g)

 

CONDITION

 

There are no breaks or cracks. One salt has a very tiny chip on the mouth above a yellow flower. All three have kiln grit on the foot rings.

 

Small tiny porcelain containers at the table that were used to hold sold, which was a valuable commodity at the time.