Welcome! We are Open Salt Collectors.

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What is an Open Salt?

An Open Salt is a small dish used as a piece of tableware for holding salt that is not a saltshaker.  In the early 1900’s, a formal place setting included a small spoon to dispense the salt, because table salt, at the time, clumped. The peak period for individual Open Salts in the United States was about 1880-1920; however, in 1911 the introduction of free-flowing table salt brought the rise of the salt shaker. The Open Salts collected by most members of our group are generally from the 1800’s to date. 

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Open Salts is a phrase coined by collectors to describe salt dishes that are not shakers. Collectors also refer to their Open Salts by the more generic names: Salts, Salt Cellars or Salt Dishes. Open Salts come in a wide variety of materials including glass, china, pottery, metal, wood, plastic and shell. Soon after their role at the table was replaced by the shaker, Open Salts became a popular common collectible.

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What type of Open Salt do I have?

Our website has a wealth of reference material to assist you in identifying your Open Salts. The two most referenced books are Heacock and Johnson’s 5000 Open Salts and The Open Salt Compendium by Sandra Jzyk and Nina Robertson.

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Join Us!

You can join a number of Open Salt Collector Regional clubs across the United States or subscribe to the National Newsletter containing research articles along with other salt newsworthy information. Regional clubs have several meetings a year as well as a newsletter.  Meetings typically have a guest speaker, show and tell, and buy and sell. Guests are always welcome. Check out our calendar of events found below.

Every two years there is a National Convention. This event includes a commemorative salt, a field trip, guest speakers, displays, auctions, door prizes, buy and sell, and knowledge shared among Open Salt Collectors.

We want to hear about your item or collection or answer any questions you have about Open Salts. Please join us on Facebook