12 American Aesthetic Movement Meriden Silverplate & Goldwashed Lotus Open Salts

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Set of 12 American Aesthetic Movement Silverplate & Goldwashed Lotus Open Salts

Meriden Britannia Company, circa 1875–1890
Dimensions: 2" W … Read more Set of 12 American Aesthetic Movement Silverplate & Goldwashed Lotus Open Salts

Meriden Britannia Company, circa 1875–1890
Dimensions: 2" W × 1.75" D × 1.5" H (each)
Bowl: 1.25" diameter × 0.75" H

A rare complete set of twelve American Aesthetic Movement open salts, beautifully modeled as lotus blossoms rising from lily pads. Each piece is crafted in silverplate by the Meriden Britannia Company, with the underside bearing their shield hallmark and pattern number 31. The bowls are formed as overlapping lotus petals with serrated rims, richly finished in a goldwashed interior that both resists salt corrosion and creates a striking two-tone contrast with the silvered exterior. Each rests upon a finely veined lily pad base with an applied circular handle, the entire design embodying the naturalistic and Anglo-Japanese influences central to the Aesthetic Movement.

Open salts were once an essential element of 19th-century dining, placed at each setting for the personal use of the guest. Here, Meriden elevates this humble form into sculptural art, reflecting the period’s conviction that beauty should infuse even the smallest objects of daily life. The lotus and lily pad motifs carry symbolic associations of purity, renewal, and harmony with nature, while also resonating with the Japonisme that informed so much late-Victorian design.

Condition: Very good overall with light surface wear, consistent with age and use. The silverplate remains bright, and the interiors retain much of their original gilding. No losses or repairs noted.

Complete sets of this type are scarce; individual examples are more common. This full set of twelve represents both decorative and functional artistry, well-suited for collectors of American silver, Aesthetic Movement design, and Japonisme. See less