Cruet set

Maker’s mark: “IP” Dumfries town mark: fouled anchor, stag's head Other mark: “e”   There are four containers in this set, for salt, pepper, mustard and oil or vinegar.   Salt came from Scottish and English coastal sites, and the inland brine springs of Cheshire and Worcestershire.  Salt boiling pits and leaching mounds were set up all along the coast of south west Scotland, and today names such as Salt Pans Bay in Leswalt and Saltcot Hills in Caerlaverock are reminders of this.   Pepper originated in the monsoon forests of south west India.  By the Middle Ages, it was of great importance in Europe as it was used to season or preserve meats, and to overcome the bad taste of rancid food.   The word vinegar comes from the French word “vinaigre” which means “sour wine”.