Antique Salt and Pepper Pots
For an especially important dinner or party the most stylish type of cruet set would have antique salt and pepper pots. These can be found in shops and there’s also an extensive range of antique salt and pepper pots on offer online. The most popular type of antique salt and pepper pots would be the silver ones, and the variety of designs might surprise you.
Edwardian and Victorian antique salt and pepper pots abound, but you can also find oriental antique salt and pepper pots with quite a different minimalist look that seems almost modern. One of the best things about antique salt and pepper pots is that they have something modern cruet sets don’t. Joy of joys, they have a mustard pot, and that’s one of my favourite condiments.
When you’re buying antique salt and pepper pots you’ll know you’ve found the complete set if you have salt, pepper, mustard and a holder. A complete set of antique salt and pepper pots like this in silver can be worth over £1,000. Don’t let the price put you off antique salt and pepper pots if it’s beyond your range, as you can also find antique salt and pepper pots for well under £100.
As a gift, or to treat yourself, you might like to look at antique salt and pepper pots that aren’t complete sets if you don’t have much to spend. A single piece from an Art Deco set of antique salt and pepper pots, for example, can look beautiful on its own. You can also put together what’s known as a harlequin combination of antique salt and pepper pots, by selecting pieces from a variety of cruet sets. Antique salt and pepper pots bought this way can cost under £50 each.
Another way to choose antique salt and pepper pots on a budget might be only to buy the salt pot, as many people don’t use pepper at the table. Salt pots come in the familiar shaker style, but there are also extremely attractive salt bowls to be used with a small spoon. Take great care looking after your antique salt and pepper pots, especially if they’re made of glass. If you have complete cruet sets in glass and break any item you will greatly decrease the value of your antique salt and pepper pots.
Second-hand stores, charity shops and car boot sales could be other places to find antique salt and pepper pots, and look for the markings on the bottom to find out if it’s silver or silver plate. If you choose silver antique salt and pepper pots make sure you only use cleaning products specifically for silver. One of the best things about silver antique salt and pepper pots is that silver improves with age if you find out how to look after it.
