Museo Civico Medievale - Salt shaker

This salt cellar represents a fascinating cultural exchange between Africa and Europe. Crafted in Sierra Leone from ivory, it was a collaboration between local African artists and Portuguese patrons in the late 15th and early 16th centuries. While these objects were created using Western models, the African artisans may not have fully understood them. In Europe, the salt cellars were proudly displayed at banquets, valued for their exquisite materials and exotic origins.