{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O10978"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O10978/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2006AT6124/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2006AT6124/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"high","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2006AT6124","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2017KB8409","copyright":"©Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":{"_iiif_pres":"https://iiif.vam.ac.uk/collections/O10978/manifest.json","_alt_iiif_pres":[]}},"record":{"systemNumber":"O10978","accessionNumber":"283:1 to 3-1893","objectType":"Salt","titles":[{"title":"The Stoke Prior Double Salt","type":"popular title"}],"summaryDescription":"<b>Object Type</b><br>Salt was a precious commodity in 16th century-England, valued both as a preservative and a flavouring. 'Salts' were therefore the most common items of silver (after spoons) to be found in lists of household possessions. They  often became heirlooms. The most elaborate salt was placed before the head of the household or the guest of honour. Smaller plain salts were provided for the other diners.<br><br><b>Design</b><br>This is known as a bell salt because of its shape. Bell salts form the largest surviving category of Elizabethan or Jacobean salts. By 1607, they were mocked as simple objects which even an unskilled journeyman could make. <br><br>It is made up of three sections with a pierced cap which acts as a pepper or spice caster. The upper section can be removed, making it into two separate salt containers. One would be kept by the guest of honour and the smaller one placed at the other end of the table. <br><br><b>Place</b><br>This salt and several other pieces of domestic silver were found in 1891 by a boy chasing rabbits at Stoke Prior, near Leominster, Herefordshire. It is a particularly interesting group as this sort of relatively simple household silver rarely survives.","physicalDescription":"","artistMakerPerson":[{"name":{"text":"Unknown","id":"A1848"},"association":{"text":"","id":""},"note":""}],"artistMakerOrganisations":[],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[],"techniques":[],"materialsAndTechniques":"Silver gilt, chased and engraved","categories":[{"text":"British Galleries","id":"THES48985"},{"text":"Metalwork","id":"THES48920"}],"styles":[],"collectionCode":{"text":"MET","id":"THES48599"},"images":["2006AT6124","2017KB8409"],"imageResolution":"high","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"58D (VA)","id":"THES49234"},"free":"","case":"CA1","shelf":"","box":"12"},{"current":{"text":"58D (VA)","id":"THES49234"},"free":"","case":"CA1","shelf":"","box":"12"},{"current":{"text":"58D (VA)","id":"THES49234"},"free":"","case":"CA1","shelf":"","box":"12"}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"Salt","id":""}],[{"text":"Lid","id":""}],[{"text":"Base","id":""}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"","note":""},{"apprise":"","note":""},{"apprise":"","note":""},{"apprise":"","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[{"place":{"text":"London","id":"x28980"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"productionDates":[{"date":{"text":"1594-1595","earliest":"1594-01-01","latest":"1595-12-31"},"association":{"text":"hallmarked","id":"x32454"},"note":""}],"associatedObjects":[],"creditLine":"","dimensions":[{"dimension":"Height","value":"24","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""},{"dimension":"Width","value":"12.5","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""},{"dimension":"Diameter","value":"11.5","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""}],"dimensionsNote":"Dimensions checked: Measured; 23/06/2000 by KB","marksAndInscriptions":[{"content":"Maker's mark NR conjoined over pellets in a plain shield, marks struck on all three components.","inscriber":{"name":{"text":"","id":""},"association":{"text":"","id":""}},"date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"description":"","interpretation":"","language":"","medium":"","method":"","position":"","script":"","translation":"","transliteration":"","type":"","note":""},{"content":"Inscribed","inscriber":{"name":{"text":"","id":""},"association":{"text":"","id":""}},"date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"description":"","interpretation":"","language":"","medium":"","method":"","position":"","script":"","translation":"","transliteration":"","type":"","note":""},{"content":"Town mark: London","inscriber":{"name":{"text":"","id":""},"association":{"text":"","id":""}},"date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"description":"","interpretation":"","language":"","medium":"","method":"","position":"","script":"","translation":"","transliteration":"","type":"","note":""}],"objectHistory":"Made in London by an unidentified maker with the mark 'NR'","historicalContext":"","briefDescription":"[*] The Stoke Prior Double Salt","bibliographicReferences":[],"production":"","productionType":{"text":"","id":""},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[],"contentConcepts":[],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[{"text":"British Galleries:\nSILVER FOR DISPLAY<br>\nPrecious metal vessels decorated in the Renaissance style were used in both domestic and church settings.  At this period presents were given at New Year, rather than Christmas.  Drinking cups, intended for display on a magnificent buffet of tiered shelves, were a popular gift.  The inclusion of the owner's initials or coat of arms indicated his high social standing.  An elaborate salt cellar marked the position of the most important person at the dining table.","date":{"text":"27/03/2003","earliest":"2003-03-27","latest":"2003-03-27"}}],"partNumbers":["283:1-1893","283:2-1893","283:3-1893"],"accessionNumberNum":"283","accessionNumberPrefix":"","accessionYear":1893,"otherNumbers":[],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE","Salt","Lid","Base"],"assets":["2019LM1321","2019LM5193","2019LN0854","2019LR0500","2019LP9705","2019LP8654","2019LR3919","2019LU4040"],"recordModificationDate":"2025-04-08","recordCreationDate":"1999-04-30","availableToBook":false}}