Features Found on Salt Figures

Marks

Salt’s mark is impressed in upper case letters, SALT.

1. Most usually it is impressed on a cartouche of pennant shape. 
2. Sometimes it is impressed directly into the body of the figure. 
3. We have on one occasion recored it impressed on a small lozenge-shaped cartouche.

Bocages

1. Five-fingered leaf bocage.
Usually the bocage has five-fingered leaves with 'carnation’ flowers. Whereas most other potters using these flowers mounted them directly on the leaves (or on small pips integral to the leaves), Salt usually—but not always-- mounted his carnations on stout short stalks.

Whereas other potters using carnations painted them various colors, Salt carnation are nearly always painted a single color. The most usual colors are iron red and mauve.We have only recorded one example with blue carnations

2. Hawthorn bocage. 
A hawthorn-like bocage and flowers that, though unusual, is very similar to that used by Enoch Wood and at least one other potter. We have recorded two examples of this bocage. In each case, the flower used is not the carnation Salt favored.

3. Triple oak- leaf bocage. This bocage has 'carnation' flowers. Sometimes acorns are molded into the leaf backs.

Note acorns molded into leaves of figure on right

General Observations

Skirt pattern. Skirts are sometimes painted with a flame pattern. This feature was used by at least one other potter, but it is quite characteristic of Salt and can be helpful where other features are also consistent with Salt. The figures below are all impressed SALT.

Salt’s figures exhibit no features unique to Salt. Salt produced relatively few marked figure forms, but those that occur are generally known from multiple examples of each. This, coupled with the existense of many Salt-like figures, leaves the impression that Salt made very many figures.  Did Salt make lots of figures yet only mark some? We simply don’t know. In the absence of a mark it is impossible to attribute a Salt-like figure to Salt. This is because Salt’s figures are are frustratingy like those made by Hall and multiple unidentified potters. In short, an unmarked figure may be the work of Salt or another potter.

The figure on the right is impressed SALT. The figure on the right is unmarked. Note the blue carnations, recalling that Salt avoided using blue for these flowers.

The shepherd on the left is impressed SALT. His companion, apparently made to pair, is unmarked despite her Salt-like appearance, including a flame pattern on her skirt.