Salt cellar c. 18th century

Editor: This is an 18th-century salt cellar. Made, rather exquisitely, out of glass, and currently residing here at the Minneapolis Institute of Art. The colour, that striking purple, is quite enchanting, isn't it? What secrets do you think this object holds, being from so long ago? Curator: Well, just imagine a time when salt wasn't as readily available as it is today. Something so small and elegant holding something so precious... it makes you think, doesn't it? Back then, a salt cellar like this wasn't just functional; it was a symbol. Perhaps a status symbol, even. Do you notice the colour, and how it deepens at the stem? Editor: I do! It almost fades from a royal blue to something nearly black, giving it depth. Curator: Exactly! It gives me the sense that it was carefully considered; the colours enhance its elegance and importance, elevating an everyday item to something quite special. It whispers stories of grand dining tables and perhaps, flickering candlelight reflecting in that gorgeous glass. It makes one wonder about the hands that crafted it and the lives that it graced, doesn’t it? Did you ever imagine a salt cellar having such profound undertones? Editor: I never thought of it that way before, actually! It really makes me think about how even simple objects can carry so much cultural meaning and historical significance. Thank you! Curator: And thank you. It’s in sharing thoughts that art really breathes. It is something that has taught me to really treasure each little piece around me!