The Exeter Salt Explained: Silver, Spices and Royal Politics

This incredible silver-gilt model of a tower is actually a salt cellar. The body of the tower is fitted with small drawers which would have been used to hold salt and spices. It was presented to Charles II for his coronation by the Parliamentarian stronghold of Exeter, possibly as a conciliatory gift. Find out more at https://www.rct.uk/collection/31772/t... This film explores the remarkable object known as the Exeter Salt, one of the most elaborate pieces of seventeenth‑century silver in the Royal Collection. Made from silver gilt and richly adorned with gemstones, the Exeter Salt combines extraordinary craftsmanship with a complex political history that reflects the upheavals of the English Civil War and the Restoration of the monarchy. The Exeter Salt is constructed from silver covered in a thin layer of gold, giving it the appearance of solid gold, and is set with jewels including emeralds, diamonds and rubies. The object is sculpted as a fantastical architectural structure, resembling an imagined castle complete with turrets, miniature cannons and four feet formed as roaring dragons, as if emerging from caves beneath it. Its theatrical design reflects the taste for elaborate and symbolic tableware at the highest social levels. The piece was made by the goldsmith Johann Hass, and it is the only surviving work attributed to him. Although its original intended owner is unknown, the Salt’s journey to England is closely linked to international diplomacy under Oliver Cromwell. It was acquired in Hamburg by Richard Bradshaw, Cromwell’s ambassador, who had been sent on a diplomatic mission to Russia. When the Tsar, enraged by the execution of Charles I, refused Bradshaw entry to the country, the ambassador returned to London with the diplomatic gifts he had purchased, including this extraordinary object. Following the Restoration of Charles II, the city of Exeter—having been a parliamentary stronghold during the Civil War—sought to regain royal favour. Thomas Vyner, Royal Goldsmith, acquired the Salt on Exeter’s behalf and presented it to the newly restored King. From that point onwards, the object became known as the Exeter Salt, retaining the name of the city that offered it as a symbol of loyalty. Historically, the salt cellar was the most important object on the dining table, closely associated with hierarchy, authority and the presence of the monarch. Although commonly referred to as a salt, the Exeter Salt is more accurately described as a spice box. Its multiple drawers indicate that it was designed to hold a variety of precious spices, which were among the most valuable commodities of the time. Early inventories described the object as English silver, partly due to the belief that it represented the White Tower, the inner keep of the Tower of London. Closer inspection reveals that this identification is incorrect, and the structure bears little resemblance to the real building. Nevertheless, the association with royal symbolism remained strong. Over time, the Exeter Salt became linked with the Crown Jewels that were recreated for the coronation of Charles II. It has remained on display with the Crown Jewels ever since, standing as a unique fusion of craftsmanship, political gesture and royal symbolism, and as one of the most visually striking survivals of the Restoration court.