Antique Silver Salt Cellars & Mustard Pots
Open salts, salt cellars and mustard pots with their cobalt blue glass liners are among the most charming small pieces of antique table silver. A guide to identifying, dating, valuing and selling antique silver salts and mustards in the UK.
What Are Your Silver Salts & Mustards Worth?
Send a photo — including the marks on the base — and we'll value them free, with no obligation. We reply within one working day.
Salt was once precious enough to deserve its own silver. From grand Georgian cellars to dainty Victorian sets with blue glass liners and matching spoons, silver salts and mustard pots are a charming, affordable and very collectable corner of antique table silver — and, by maker and date, can be surprisingly valuable.
Silver salt cellars & mustard pots: what they are
A salt cellar (or open salt) is a small bowl, often raised on feet, holding salt — usually with a cobalt blue glass liner to stop the salt corroding the silver, and a tiny matching salt spoon. A mustard pot is a small lidded silver pot, also with a blue glass liner and a mustard spoon. Both were made from the 18th century onward in huge variety — pierced, gadrooned, beaded and cast forms — and the best are by named makers such as Hester Bateman and Paul Storr.
What collectors look for
Named makers
Hester Bateman, Paul Storr and noted Georgian makers carry a strong premium over unmarked or later pieces.
Complete sets
Matched sets of four or six cased salts with spoons, or a salt-pepper-mustard cruet, beat odd singles.
Original liners
Intact, uncracked blue glass liners and original spoons greatly increase value and desirability.
Fine forms
Pierced, cast and figural salts over plain bowls. Crisp gadrooned or beaded borders are best.
What are antique silver salts & mustards worth?
Value runs from little more than scrap silver to several hundred pounds and beyond, driven by maker, date, weight and completeness:
Indicative only — your piece depends on maker, hallmark date, weight and condition. Send a photo for a free, accurate valuation.
What Determines Value
The factors we assess on silver salts and mustards:
- Maker — Bateman, Storr and noted makers over unmarked pieces.
- Date — Georgian examples most collected; the hallmark dates it.
- Completeness — Original spoons, liners and matched sets.
- Form & quality — Pierced, cast and figural over plain bowls.
- Weight — Heavier gauge sterling carries more value.
- Condition — Uncracked liners, no splits, repairs or worn feet.
Marks are on the base or rim — look for the lion passant for sterling. Plate is marked EPNS.
How to identify and date your silver salts
First confirm it is sterling, not plate. Turn the piece over and look for the lion passant (sterling) alongside the town mark, date letter and maker's mark; plated salts are stamped EPNS or "A1" and are worth far less — our EPNS vs sterling silver guide explains the difference. The date letter then tells you the year — use our how to read silver hallmarks guide. For scrap-weight pieces, the silver price valuation guide and live silver price show what the metal alone is worth.
Salts and mustards sit alongside the rest of the condiment and breakfast silver. See our guides to cruet & condiment sets, toast racks and Paul Storr silver. When you're ready to sell, visit sell your silver.
Value Your Silver Salts & Mustards
Send photographs of the pieces and the marks on the base, and we'll give you an honest, no-obligation valuation.
⚠️ Strictly by appointment only — no walk-ins at either showroom.
Frequently Asked Questions
Antique silver salt cellars and mustard pots — common questions.
What is a silver salt cellar?
A small silver bowl, often on feet, that holds salt at the table — usually fitted with a cobalt blue glass liner to protect the silver, and a tiny matching salt spoon. Made from the 18th century onward in great variety.
How much are antique silver salts and mustards worth?
From little above scrap silver for plain singles up to several hundred pounds or more for Georgian, named-maker or cast figural examples. Maker, hallmark date, weight and completeness decide. Send a photo for a free valuation.
Why do they have blue glass liners?
Salt and mustard corrode and tarnish silver, so makers fitted removable cobalt blue (sometimes clear) glass liners. Original, uncracked liners add value; replacements or missing liners reduce it.
How do I tell sterling from plate?
Look for the lion passant hallmark on the base. Plated salts are marked EPNS or A1 and are worth far less. Send a photo of the marks and we'll confirm.
Are matched sets worth more?
Yes. A cased set of four or six salts with spoons and liners, or a complete salt-pepper-mustard cruet, is worth considerably more than the same pieces sold singly.
Where can I sell antique silver salts in the UK?
Mozeris Fine Antiques are specialist silver buyers with showrooms in Mayfair, London and Braintree, Essex. We offer free, no-obligation valuations — send photos or visit by appointment.
Send Us Your Photographs
Attach photos of the salts, mustards and the marks on the base. We'll respond within one working day.