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In this Forum we discuss the silver of the United Kingdom, as well as British Colonial silver and Old Sheffield Plate. Past British - Irish Sterling topics/threads worth a look. |
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In this Forum we discuss the silver of the United Kingdom, as well as British Colonial silver and Old Sheffield Plate. Past British - Irish Sterling topics/threads worth a look. |
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 SMP Silver Salon Forums
 British / Irish Sterling
 British salt and pepper
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| Author | Topic: British salt and pepper |
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June Martin Forum Master Posts: 1343 |
posted 08-14-2007 05:51 PM
  
This evening at dinner in London, we noticed an interesting difference between the silver salt and pepper shakers. The shape was exactly the same except for the salt shaker having more holes than the pepper shaker, as expected. What do you suspect was the difference? IP: Logged |
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rian Posts: 169 |
posted 08-15-2007 08:34 AM
Hi June, I always assumed that it was because pepper was more expensive. IP: Logged |
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doc Posts: 730 |
posted 08-15-2007 09:31 AM
I have heard it explained a couple of different ways. First is the relative cost of pepper vs. salt. But I have also had it explained to me that pepper can overwhelm the taste of a dish, so a single hole allows control of the application of pepper. June, you have made me realize that I have "reversed" the contents of my salt and pepper shakers from Newbridge Silver in Ireland, and it explains why I have been so frustrated in getting salt out of the single hole container all these years! IP: Logged |
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tmockait Posts: 963 |
posted 08-15-2007 04:29 PM
Why do you assume this arrangement is typical of British salt and pepper shakers and not an abberation? I was just in Nairobi, Kenya, a former British colony. The salt shaker had one whole and the pepper shaker many? I assume the whole configuration and size depends on how easily the spice shakes out. Tom IP: Logged |
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ahwt Posts: 2377 |
posted 08-15-2007 06:15 PM
Is June asking about a variation other than in the number of holes in each shaker? Normally I would expect both shakers to be made the same way, with the silversmith changing the hole configuration to suit the assumed use of the item. One variation could be a gold wash to protect the silver in the salt shaker. IP: Logged |
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rian Posts: 169 |
posted 08-15-2007 08:58 PM
Where I grew up, the common practice was to have a salt shaker with more holes than the pepper shaker. If they were otherwise identical, that was how you distinguished between them. Now that dietary sodium is a concern, I've heard the suggestion that the contents should be reversed in the hopes that will lead to lower salt consumption? These days salt and pepper appear at the table most often in grinders rather than shakers. Is this true elsewhere? IP: Logged |
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Scott Martin Forum Master Posts: 11573 |
posted 08-16-2007 08:55 AM
Hint: The difference has nothing to do with the holes. IP: Logged |
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Kayvee Posts: 204 |
posted 08-16-2007 11:56 AM
Sometimes you find a representation that gives a clue to contents of the shaker, the usual being an emblem of the sea, such as a shell for the salt and a pepper corn for the pepper shaker. IP: Logged |
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swarter Moderator Posts: 2920 |
posted 08-16-2007 01:54 PM
quote: And what is the configuration of the holes in the ones that are so marked? IP: Logged |
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rian Posts: 169 |
posted 08-16-2007 01:57 PM
Sorry I didn't read more carefully. Goldwash to cut salt corrosion is a good suggestion or a design difference to indicate use. Another thing could be an insert to absorb moisture to help the salt flow more freely. Would cork do that? IP: Logged |
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June Martin Forum Master Posts: 1343 |
posted 08-16-2007 06:25 PM
Okay, I'm sorry I wasn't more clear. The holes are not the issue. To Tmockait's response, you are right, I don't know if the attribute I observed is exclusive to British salt and pepper shakers, it is just the first time I have experienced the phenomena. What we noticed was that the pepper shaker was much more heavily weighted (possibly 3x) than the silver shaker. We wondered if this was done to slow down the amount of pepper one would take or to assist the blind in determining which shaker to use or some other reason? IP: Logged |
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ahwt Posts: 2377 |
posted 08-17-2007 09:33 AM
If these are present-day shakers the manufacturer may provide an answer. The idea that it would be easier for blind people to determine the difference is certainly true and if that is the reason it would be a tribute to someone within the English manufacturing chain. IP: Logged |
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DB Posts: 252 |
posted 08-18-2007 12:14 AM
Let me just imagine the process - the blind person would have to take both shakers in his/her hands, weigh them and then pick out the heavier one as the pepper shaker??? IP: Logged |
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jersey Posts: 1203 |
posted 08-18-2007 02:49 PM
Hello June! This may sound stupid, but did you by chance ask the restaurant regarding the weight. Have you noticed this difference in any other countries? Is it possible that the shaker could have been soldered, or plaster added to fill in and/or make a repair, thereby adding weight? Just some thoughts. Hope you are enjoying your holiday. Jersey IP: Logged |
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Scott Martin Forum Master Posts: 11573 |
posted 08-20-2007 10:10 AM
You didn't need to a comparison as the difference is immediately recognized. Not knowing which was which, I happened to pick up the pepper first and straightaway said what gives? (because of the unexpected weight) I then reached for the other shaker and although the same shape and size, it was significantly lighter (the same weight as any typical weighted salt or pepper). We would have asked for an explanation but the situation didn’t allow for such an inquiry. We grappled with the possibilities and then figured one of you would have run across it before and would know why. IP: Logged |
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agphile Posts: 798 |
posted 07-07-2008 12:26 PM
I came across this thread when browsing and thought I might add a belated comment from England. I am not aware of any standard practice to weight salt and pepper shakers differently, helpful though that might be to the blind. I would expect modern ones to be differentiated by the design, often as simple as arranging the piercing in an S or a P shape. I think the difference in weight might simply be due to a repair (replaced loading) or to the two pieces not having been made at the same time and therefore not matching completely. More traditionally in England the salt shaker would have a single hole, somewhat larger than the multiple holes of the pepper shaker. I think this was because, rather than sprinkle the salt like the pepper, the “polite” thing to do was pour a little pile of salt on the side of your plate as you would have done when spooning it from an open salt-cellar. However, manners change. As a child I was taught not to sprinkle my salt. Nowadays I do so unashamedly. The introduction of grinders for both salt and pepper may have contributed to my reformation. IP: Logged |
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June Martin Forum Master Posts: 1343 |
posted 07-07-2008 10:01 PM
Thanks to all for the input. I may just go back to the establishment in question and ask them straight out why the weight difference. I'll share any inpsight I get back. IP: Logged |
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