Salt pig

This is a decorative salt pig with the word ‘salt’ written on the outside. A salt pig was a container that could be used for easily taking a pinch or spoon of salt and traditionally it would be kept near the fire to prevent the salt from drying out as it was a very precious and essential item.

Nowadays salt is cheap and readily available but it was not long ago when it was regarded as highly valuable and even as a type of currency. Historically it has even been partly responsible for the power of kings and governments through salt taxes and the French Revolution started partly due to the high salt tax. In 1930 as a protest against Britain's control of India and the high salt tax, Mahatma Gandhi led a mass pilgrimage to the seaside to make salt themselves. Civilisations protected the ‘salt roads’ because salt was not easy to obtain and because of salt’s ability to preserve food so there was less dependency on seasonal produce. Locally there is a 'Salters Road' which led from the saltpans where salt was made from evaporating sea water.

Slaves in Greece were often bartered for salt and some were considered ‘not worth his salt’. Roman soldiers were paid partly in ‘salarium’- salt - giving us the word ‘salary’. If medieval guests were considered distinguished they sat ‘above the salt’ while those sitting further away from the host and saltcellar were not so important. There are many references to salt in different religions.

Salt is essential for our health and has an immense importance not only in preserving food and helping to extract moisture but in very many industries.