ANTIQUE SILVER CRUET SETS
Antique Silver cruet sets Description:
A stand with attached frame designed to hold multiple condiment casters and bottles for such things as salt, pepper, oil, vinegar, mustard, and soy sauce.
Antique Silver cruet sets History:
The earliest known examples date from the Queen Anne period in the early 18th century. They were made throughout the Georgian and Victorian periods but went out of vogue in the 20th century.
Antique Silver cruet sets Design:
Early examples, called Warwick cruets had three matching all silver casters (with one un-pierced), and two silver-mounted glass bottles for oil and vinegar, all sitting in a silver frame-work attached to a stand with a central handle. Later Georgian and Victorian versions had all silver-mounted cut-crystal bottles in a frame, varying from two to eight bottles. The frame and stand shape and designs varied according to fashion. The vacant rings, often found attached to the sides of the frame, were to hold the glass stoppers when the bottles were being used.
Antique Silver cruet sets Collectors Note:
Because there are so many different parts to a full cruet set it is very important to make sure that every removable silver piece is hallmarked. The stand, frame, caster bases, caster tops, and silver-mounted bottles should all have corresponding marks. It is very rare now to find an 18th century cruet set with all its original glass bottles and stoppers. The condition of a cruet set is most paramount and there should be nothing missing and no major damage. Replacement casters or bottles are often found which should reduce the value of the set.