Many of us are polishing the silver for the holidays, but I suspect most are not polishing up silver salt cellars and spoons. The Hammond-Harwood House has a beautiful collection of salt cellars and spoons, and what is particularly special is that many of them in our collection are original to the House, having been purchased at the Harwood sale in May, 1925 and later given back to the museum..
The Hammond-Harwood House salt cellars, made by English silversmith William Plummer, have a body of beautiful open-work with a beaded rim at the top, with a glass liner to protect the silver. Plummer was known for his pierced designs and this is further demonstrated in the center section that has a panel with garlands connecting to more open-work urn designs and an engraved crest. Just like miniature versions of furniture, they sit on four ball and claw feet.
There are several silversmith markings on the bottom of the salt cellar shown here, including that of Annapolis silversmith William Whetcroft. Whetcroft imported Plummer’s silverwork, but added his own mark on pieces. Despite anti-British sentiment during the Revolutionary War, Americans sought out British goods again after the war, and these pieces are prime examples.
Lucinda Dukes EdinbergCuratorWilliam Plummer (English, 1739-1791)Silver salt cellar, London, England, c. 1782/1783SilverS.58 Gift of Mr. Addison H. Reese in memory of his mother Mrs. Walter Hopkins (nee Mabel Ford), 1976.Resources: Joanna Church, “A Fine Collection – A weekly artifact from the Montgomery County Historical Society, MD,” April 30. 2014. Salt Spoon.
