Castor and Salt Dish 1870

This silver castor and salt dish was created by the Gorham Manufacturing Company. Notice the shape of the castor, reminiscent of a classical amphora. The amphora, historically used for storing wine or oil, symbolizes abundance and transformation, echoing the alchemical process of culinary refinement. Consider how this form, once holding life's essentials, now elegantly dispenses salt. This act connects us to ancestral rituals of seasoning and preservation. The circular perforations atop the castor are also intriguing. This brings to mind the cosmic sieve through which earthly and celestial realms are filtered, or the cyclical rhythms of nature, as seen in ancient agrarian societies. It is a symbol that carries a potent blend of cultural memory and subconscious yearning.