{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O48559"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O48559/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2006AM2675/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2006AM2675/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"high","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2006AM2675","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":{"_iiif_pres":"https://iiif.vam.ac.uk/collections/O48559/manifest.json","_alt_iiif_pres":[]}},"record":{"systemNumber":"O48559","accessionNumber":"M.49-2000","objectType":"Salt spoon","titles":[],"summaryDescription":"<b>Object Type</b><br>Small condiment spoons for serving salt and mustard evolved gradually from about 1730 onwards. As more salt cellars for the use of individual guests appeared on dining tables, it was more polite and elegant for guests to use spoons rather than their fingers or the point of a knife to take salt and put it on their plates.<br><br><b>Design & Designing</b><br>Salt spoons, especially those made before the 19th century, can be shovel or shell-shaped. This salt spoon, however, is of a miniature ladle style with a wide, deep bowl and curved handle. The ladle style became popular from about 1780.<br><br><b>Manufacturer</b><br>The salt spoon was perhaps made by the manufacturers Samuel  Roberts and Charles Belk of Sheffield, Yorkshire. One of the specialities of the firm was the production of spoons and forks.","physicalDescription":"Spoon with rounded bowl on Fiddle pattern handle.","artistMakerPerson":[],"artistMakerOrganisations":[{"name":{"text":"Roberts & Belk Ltd.","id":"A4661"},"association":{"text":"manufacturer","id":"x33306"},"note":"possibly"}],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[{"text":"nickel silver","id":"AAT242125"}],"techniques":[],"materialsAndTechniques":"Electroplated nickel silver","categories":[{"text":"Metalwork","id":"THES48920"},{"text":"Tableware & cutlery","id":"THES48888"},{"text":"Eating","id":"THES48963"},{"text":"British Galleries","id":"THES48985"}],"styles":[],"collectionCode":{"text":"MET","id":"THES48599"},"images":["2006AM2675"],"imageResolution":"high","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"125B (VA)","id":"THES49893"},"free":"","case":"CA2","shelf":"","box":"8"}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"salt spoon","id":""}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[{"place":{"text":"Sheffield","id":"x29138"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":"possibly"}],"productionDates":[{"date":{"text":"ca. 1863","earliest":"1858-01-01","latest":"1867-12-31"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"associatedObjects":[],"creditLine":"Given by Helen Werner","dimensions":[{"dimension":"Length","value":"9.8","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""},{"dimension":"Width","value":"2.5","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""},{"dimension":"Height","value":"10","unit":"mm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""}],"dimensionsNote":"Dimensions checked: Measured; 27/06/2000 by ET","marksAndInscriptions":[{"content":"On back of handle: R&B in an oval, an Aladdin's lamp in a square, letter s in square, C or JP in square, A in shield.","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":"Possibly manufactured by Samuel Roberts & Charles Belk, Sheffield","historicalContext":"","briefDescription":"Electroplated nickel silver salt spoon, possibly manufactured by Samuel Roberts and Charles Belk, Sheffield, ca. 1863.","bibliographicReferences":[],"production":"","productionType":{"text":"","id":""},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[],"contentConcepts":[],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[{"text":"British Galleries:\nSALT CELLARS AND SPOONS<br>\nSolid silver salt cellars feature in the Mappin Brothers catalogue of 1897. They came in sets of 4 or 6, including salt spoons, and were presented in a Morroco leather case.  For a richly chased pattern, the price for a set of 4 was £4 15s (£4.75p), for a set of 6, £7. According to the cookery writer, Mrs Beeton, '....there should be a salt cellar between every two persons. Unless silver salt cellars are used, the glass ones should match the rest of the service. '","date":{"text":"27/03/2003","earliest":"2003-03-27","latest":"2003-03-27"}}],"partNumbers":["M.49-2000"],"accessionNumberNum":"49","accessionNumberPrefix":"M","accessionYear":2000,"otherNumbers":[],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE"],"assets":["2019LN2288","2019LP2202","2019LP2032","2019LV5533"],"recordModificationDate":"2025-04-12","recordCreationDate":"2000-09-21","availableToBook":false}}