Antique Miniature Turned Cornish Serpentine (Stone Salt or Pin Dish)

Antique Miniature Hand-Turned Cornish Serpentine Stone Salt Cellar / Pin Dish – c. 1900.

A charming antique miniature hand-turned Cornish Serpentine stone open salt cellar or pin dish. Dating from around the turn of the 20th century, this beautiful pocket-sized micro-curio was masterfully turned from the iconic, globally recognized stone native to the Lizard Peninsula in Cornwall, England.

This delicate piece showcases spectacular natural geology, featuring a rich, tightly marbled matrix of deep jasper reds, olive greens, and subtle shimmering mineral inclusions.

Scale & Functional Uses:
This is a genuine antique miniature pocket piece, measuring just 7.3cm across. It is perfect for use today as an elegant vanity ring holder, a small desk tidy for pins/paperclips, or on a dining table as a traditional individual open table salt cellar.

Period Character Details:
Concentric Lathe Marks: The underside of the footed base clearly retains its original concentric turning grooves and central mandrel point from the craftsman's lathe.

Historic Lead Repair Plug: The rounded rim features an authentic, tiny old lead-filled stabilization plug. This is a classic, highly collectible testament to traditional Victorian and Edwardian stone-turning methods, where master turners used molten lead to stabilize natural geological fissures in the rock while spinning it into thin-walled miniature shapes.

Condition Report:
Excellent antique condition. The stone retains a beautiful, smooth, and highly tactile polished finish. There are no modern cracks, fractures, structural damage, or chips to the delicate rim or the footed base. A pristine, beautiful survival of Edwardian Cornish souvenir craft.

Dimensions:
Diameter: 7.3 cm
Height: 4.2 cm
Weight: Lightweight / Pocket scale

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OVERVIEW:
Origin: Cornwall, England / British
Material: Serpentine Stone / Lizard Stone / Metamorphic Rock
Era: Antique (1890-1915) / Edwardian / Late Victorian
Object Type: Salt Cellar / Pin Dish / Miniature Bowl / Trinket Dish
Size: Miniature / Pocket Size / Small (7.3cm x 4.2cm)
Color: Red, Green, Multicolored Marbled