An early Chelsea salt or sweetmeat dish, circa 1745-49An early Chelsea salt or sweetmeat dish, circa 1745-49In the form of an upturned scallop shell nestled on a band of red coral encrusted with delicately modelled small shells and seaweed, picked out in varied, vibrant colours, the interior painted with a cowrie shell amongst weeds and coral, smaller sprays to the exterior, 7.8cm wide, incised triangle markProvenanceSylvia and Alan Low CollectionA similar example from the Zorka Hodgson Collection was sold by Bonhams on 10 September 2008, lot 1. Another is illustrated and discussed by Simon Spero in his exhibition catalogue, A Taste Entirely New (1988), no.7. A related pair of salts is illustrated by John Austin, Chelsea Porcelain at Williamsburg (1977), p.28, fig.10. The distinctive enamelling on this small group of salts was most likely added in the independent London workshop of William Duesbury.