Stunning Pair retailer of Vintage, Clear, Covered, Individual Swan Salts, Beautifully Etched, Extremely Hard-to-Find, Excellent Condition!

retailer These beautiful, vintage, individual, covered, swan salts are clear glass that has been beautifully designed and etched, so that each swan has exquisite details. These kinds of salts are becoming increasingly difficult to find, especially in such excellent condition.

While these swan salts are often collected and displayed for their beauty alone, it is by members of the pagan community that they are the most often put to the use for which they were originally advertised--holding salt--as well as being collected and displayed. After all, swans have a long, well-known, and cross-cultural history of being associated with both divine beings and beloved legends, and of representing such things as beauty, grace, pure love, passion, and protection. Moreover, because swans are known to mate for life, they are also said to be symbols of fidelity and longevity. So, it is no wonder that using an antique or vintage swan salt as a salt holder or an offering dish on one's altar, or as part of the decor for one's altar or sacred space, can feel appropriate, respectful, and loving.

The open swan design originated in England in the 1870s, and, shortly thereafter, crossed the Atlantic to be manufactured in America in the late 1800s and early 1900s. Later, the open swan design reemerged in the carnival glass revival of the 1960s/70s/onward, as both the antique swans and the modern ones were becoming popular collectibles. Generally, however, the modern swans were used as display pieces, rather than as salts. In their heyday, however, the larger swans (like the one featured here) were advertised as master salts, or as the large dish of salt that was served to the head of the table, and from which s/he would dispense portions of salt to the other diners--using a small spoon to place each person's portion of salt into their smaller, individual salts (also known as "salt cellars"). Due to the fact that these swans came along well into the era of the salt shaker, however, and given that their size is far larger than that of most master salts, many collectors believe that, despite the advertisements through the years, these open swans were always used decoratively, or as candy/nut dishes, or as posies, rather than as salts.

So, here, framed by history, folklore, and legend, we offer these gorgeous, vintage, individual, covered, swan salts, and we do so with every hope that their new owner will make them a treasured part of their practice, and eventually pass them down, complete with whatever associations they come to hold for you, to the next generation of magical practitioners.

These swan salts are each approximately 3.5-inches tall by approximately 3.5-inches wide. They are in pristine condition.

Note on Shipping: While we generally ship every day, Monday through Saturday, there will be occasional times (generally during the summer) when we will be shipping on Tuesdays and Fridays only. If this poses a serious problem for you, please contact me, and we will do our best to get your order shipped immediately! I will always write to you after you place an order, and let you know when we will ship your package! You will never be left guessing! Also, please know that we make no profit on shipping whatsoever! If the shipping price has been overestimated by Etsy, we will refund any excess shipping charges! The cost of shipping nowadays is high enough! We never make it worse than it already is! (Note: As collectors and sellers of antique and vintage art glass, we are highly experienced at packing both glass and ceramic items, so that these beautiful items will arrive at their destinations safely!)

International Buyers Please Note: Buyers are responsible for any and all customs charges, duties, VAT charges, and other such charges and fees that are imposed by the destination country at the time of a package's arrival. You may be required to pay these charges before your Post Office will release your package to you. Unfortunately, as a seller, we are unable to predict either when/if these charges will be assessed or how much they will cost, if assessed. So, please contact your local Post Office, to learn the amount of such charges, if any, before purchasing from a seller in the U.S. We do NOT want you to be surprised by charges upon the arrival of your package.

Note: This listing is for a pair of covered swan salts only. The stand and all other items shown in the photos (including the pumpkins and gourds, etc.) are for display purposes ONLY, and are NOT included.