Salt Cellar

Title: Salt Cellar

Artist: Benvenuto Cellini(1500-1571)

Work: Sculpture

Material:gold, enamel and ebony

Work Date: 1540 - 1543

Style: Mannerism

Size：h26 x w34cm. h10 1/4 x w13 1/8

Collection: Was concealed at Kunsthistorisches Museum, Vienna. Now stolen.

Appreciation

This beautiful salt cellar is made of two figures - Neptune and Ceres, who represent Water and Earth. Their intertwined legs symbolize the combination of these elements, which together produce salt.

Cellini was a celebrated goldsmith, sculptor and engraver. He worked for emperors, kings, popes and princes; this particular object was made for king Francis 1 of France. The splendour and grace of Cellini's work is a perfect example of the Mannerist school.

The aim of these artists was to appeal to the emotions through aesthetic effect. This led to the use of elongated figures and sharp colours, as can be seen in the work of late sixteenth - century artists.

A great deal is known about Cellini's tempestuous life from his autobiography, which is full of racy anecdotes such as an account of his imprisonment for stealing the papal crown jewels. Unfortunately, most of Cellini's smaller works - medals, cups and daggers - were melted down. Many of his larger masterpieces, however, have survived.

The Saliera is the only work of gold which can be attributed to Cellini with certainty and is sometimes referred to as the "Mona Lisa of Sculpture."

On May 11, 2003, the Saliera was stolen from the Kunsthistorisches Museum, which was covered by a scaffolding at that time due to reconstruction works.

The Saliera was recovered on January 21, 2006 buried in a lead box in a forest near the town of Zwettl, Austria, about 90 km north of Vienna.

The assumed thief, Robert Mang, had turned himself in after police released surveillance photos of the suspect which were subsequently recognized by acquaintances.

About the artist