Japanese Meiji / Taisho Silver Salt Shaker + Cruet

East Asia, Japan, Meiji to Taisho period, ca. late 19th to early 20th century CE. An adorable pairing of a sterling silver abacus shaker and tub-shaped cruet with a spoon. This petite abacus is a miniature version of the counting tool with beads that move upon thin bars to indicate digits. This abacus has small door that slides open at the back for filling with salt or pepper. Two top corners of the frame have perforations for the flakes to sift through. The other item is a silver cruet basket shaped like a wooden tub or barrel that rests on four feet. The top has two rounded openings for inserting a removable glass bowl and a tubular shaker with small perforations on the top. A dainty spoon with a rounded finial completes the set. The abacus and cruet are stamped with "Sterling" on their bases. Size of abacus: 2" L x .5" W x .75" H (5.1 cm x 1.3 cm x 1.9 cm); cruet: 1.75" L x 1.25" W x 1.375" H (4.4 cm x 3.2 cm x 3.5 cm); quality of silver: 92% to 97%; weight of both: 71.8 grams

Provenance: ex-Stein collection, Bloomfield Hills, Michigan, USA, acquired prior to 2010

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#163987
Condition Report: Glass bowl is cracked with nicks around rim. Lid on shaker is not removable. Nice patina. Abacus beads move and compartment door slides open. Nice patina and age commensurate with age and use.