Spice Ship

In the Middle Ages in Europe, the spice trade was the ultimate in profitable trade. In order to keep the prices for spices like salt and pepper artificially high, the traders resorted to means that seem familiar to us today: precious spices were simply thrown into the sea. To ensure that the gourmet wastes neither salt nor pepper, these containers, covered with oval porcelain lids set in gilded copper, have only small openings. The ship with its precious cargo rests on a richly ornamented open-work rocaille and volute stand made of gilt bronze – a masterpiece of the art of metalworking. Almost nothing could represent the value of a pinch of salt as charmingly as a fresh breeze. Ship ahoy!