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Description
This is one of two identical hand-wrought salt cellars with gold plated bowl interiors and exteriors chased in the repousse manner with roses, leaves and garlands, all supported by three shell and scroll feet. The overall design blends elements from past styles in an updated manner; a delicate beaded border is applied to the opening above the rococo-revival flowers and a webbed scallop shell flanked by C-scrolls on the bombe swelled bowl. James Conning's jewelry shop in Mobile, Alabama retailed tea and table wares as well as provided engraving for pocket watches, flatware and other luxury items. It is unclear how often he (perhaps with journeymen silversmiths) created items bearing his mark, but Conning actively used connections from his experience of working in New York City prior to 1840 to provide patrons with fashionable items. These two salt cellars are not identical, but very similar to a design also made by the Wood & Hughes firm in New York. The tiny journeyman's rectangular mark, "ET," stamped above the floral decoration holds an unsolved clue to their place of manufacture, but Conning's mark guaranteed their quality.