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Antiques! => Antique Questions Forum => Topic started by: kidden6968 on August 09, 2012, 07:08:15 PM

Title: Small crystal something???
Post by: kidden6968 on August 09, 2012, 07:08:15 PM
Ok here is one item that I am struggling to figure out what it is.  It looks like a small basket of some sort but doesn't look like a top belongs on it.  I wouldn't know how to date either.  Any color you see is the color being reflected in the crystal.  It measures 2" diameter and 1 3/4" high at handles and 1 1/4" high around rim.

Any clue?  Hopefully the pictures are ok - I think I am getting the knack of it and then end up with crazy stuff  LOL  The cloth underneath is white but no matter what I tried to do with the color and contrast it didn't come out right   :-\
Title: Re: Small crystal something???
Post by: wendy177 on August 09, 2012, 07:52:12 PM
 I would say a covered salt.
Title: Re: Small crystal something???
Post by: ghopper1924 on August 09, 2012, 07:55:16 PM
A bowl for rings?
Title: Re: Small crystal something???
Post by: Rauville on August 09, 2012, 08:02:08 PM
Did they ever have "finger bowls" in crystal?
Title: Re: Small crystal something???
Post by: kidden6968 on August 09, 2012, 08:06:21 PM
Ok now this is what I am talking about  LOL  So I thought about ring or trinkets then Wendy said covered salt and I had no clue what that was so I started googling.  I had never heard of a salt dish or salt cellar but apparently that is what it is.  Here is a link to a listing on ebay which has the same one in it.   Not a great pic but it is one of the ones in the back row.  This says open salt cellars.  Still trying to figure that out - people would dip the food into the dish of salt?  Would this have been like mid-century?

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-Cut-Crystal-and-Pressed-Glass-Lot-of-Six-Open-Salts-Salt-Cellars-/140816872192?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item20c956f300

Ok well apparently not much worth but cool to know.  This is cut crystal correct? 
Title: Re: Small crystal something???
Post by: ghopper1924 on August 09, 2012, 08:12:30 PM
It looks cut. Do the ridges feel sharp to the touch?
Title: Re: Small crystal something???
Post by: kidden6968 on August 09, 2012, 08:14:18 PM
Yes more so on the top rim but definite sharpness - not rounded or smooth edges.
Title: Re: Small crystal something???
Post by: wendy177 on August 09, 2012, 08:28:23 PM
Kidden  ;)  They had tiny salt spoons to scoop some out of open salt  and sprinkle on food!  Cut crystal.  :)
Title: Re: Small crystal something???
Post by: kidden6968 on August 09, 2012, 08:35:57 PM
I get like a little rush when I learn about something new - like when I had the hair receiver and I had never heard of that either  LOL  Thanks all - would this be like 40's - 50's?
Title: Re: Small crystal something???
Post by: greenacres on August 09, 2012, 08:53:53 PM
The spoons looked like this.
Title: Re: Small crystal something???
Post by: cogar on August 10, 2012, 03:34:13 AM
Kidden's open-salt looks like "pressed glass" to me.

And I think they even made little spoons out of glass to go with the "open salts".
Title: Re: Small crystal something???
Post by: kidden6968 on August 10, 2012, 04:53:47 AM
Wish I could take better pics - still working on trying to find a free photography class in my area - when i wasn't interested I would see them - now?  Not so much   8)
Title: Re: Small crystal something???
Post by: pilfro on August 10, 2012, 08:05:36 AM
Wish I could take better pics - still working on trying to find a free photography class in my area - when i wasn't interested I would see them - now?  Not so much   8)

Wife is a Photographer, she would probably tell you to place it on a darker background. Same reason they always show diamond with a black setting.
Title: Re: Small crystal something???
Post by: mart on August 10, 2012, 08:53:18 AM
Salt cellars were used up until the 40`s,, not much after that but a few do show up later !! Most were used in formal settings,, us common folk used shakers !!
Title: Re: Small crystal something???
Post by: kidden6968 on August 10, 2012, 03:01:36 PM
Cogar - not sure - feels sharp especially around the top rim - I don't know enough though - will have to get some books and start learning the difference.

Thanks Mart - yes definitely shakers in my family too  LOL

Thank you Pilfro - I have been trying all kinds of different things and lighting - I also don't have the best camera and right now outside lighting comes out the best.  The lighting in my house is horrible.  I will try different backgrounds and darker especially with the glass.

Thanks everyone!!
Title: Re: Small crystal something???
Post by: Quinborne on August 22, 2012, 08:22:08 PM
This is a cut glass salt not pressed glass . In fact it is a good quality small cut glass item and could be English or Irish. If l have to date it will be 1890-1920.
Title: Re: Small crystal something???
Post by: ghopper1924 on August 23, 2012, 05:30:45 AM
Right, cut as I suspected. ;)
Title: Re: Small crystal something???
Post by: wendy177 on August 23, 2012, 07:53:00 AM
Yes cut glass I also would say around 1910 but I think French.
Title: Re: Small crystal something???
Post by: KC on August 23, 2012, 08:19:42 AM
These little pieces of the past have a few different names:  Open salts (still used by chefs/kitchens today), salt cellars, salt dish, salties and salt dips.  They were used on elaborate and elegant settings when lots on the table setting was considered "in".  They have been made open or closed.  Plain or elaborate.  (Some of my favorites:  Viking ships, hens, etc.)  

But realize that there are still places that make them because of their popularity.  Interesting enough, there are places making the pressed glass ones using the original old molds....so they aren't considered reproductions...but most reputable firms will mark them a little differently to differentiate the timeline.  PotteryBarn is starting to produce some in novel forms, etc.

The collecting of these pieces of history are so popular that there is now a convention, there are collectors clubs, etc.

This one site is remarkable!  They have a section devoted to salt cellars by Makers even!  :
INFORMATION ON PRESSED GLASS OPEN SALTS OF THE  PAST 75 YEARS
http://opensalts.net/about_us.html (http://opensalts.net/about_us.html)
Title: Re: Small crystal something???
Post by: ghopper1924 on August 23, 2012, 11:17:43 AM
Cool. Glad to see people appreciating an interesting aspect of the past, however obscure.
Title: Re: Small crystal something???
Post by: bigwull on August 23, 2012, 01:49:38 PM
Ok now this is what I am talking about  LOL  So I thought about ring or trinkets then Wendy said covered salt and I had no clue what that was so I started googling.  I had never heard of a salt dish or salt cellar but apparently that is what it is.  Here is a link to a listing on ebay which has the same one in it.   Not a great pic but it is one of the ones in the back row.  This says open salt cellars.  Still trying to figure that out - people would dip the food into the dish of salt?  Would this have been like mid-century?

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-Cut-Crystal-and-Pressed-Glass-Lot-of-Six-Open-Salts-Salt-Cellars-/140816872192?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item20c956f300

Ok well apparently not much worth but cool to know.  This is cut crystal correct? 
they did,nt dip the food into the salt..they dipped there fingers.to take a pinch