Recovered from the wreck of the Spanish galleon Nuestra Señora de Atocha, which sank off the Florida coast in 1622, this exceptional silver-gilt salt cellar was made in the Viceroyalty of Peru no later than that year. Its provenance provides a firm chronological reference for a rare surviving example of early viceregal table silver.

Conceived in the form of a torrecilla, or small tower, the vessel comprises four detachable sections rising from a six-sided base supported on spherical feet. Two receptacles held salt, while the upper compartment served as a pepper shaker. Engraved scrolls, oval and rectangular panels, diamond-shaped studs and cast ribs create an elaborate decorative scheme. Finely worked, textured grounds contrast with the raised ornament, reflecting the abstract Mannerist taste of around 1600. As well as serving the table, such imposing objects expressed the status of their owners.

A royal crown within a beaded circular border appears twice at the base of the cylindrical section. In her study, Dr Cristina Esteras Martín identifies these as fiscal marks associated with payment of the royal quinto and relates them to other silver objects recovered from the same wreck. She proposes Lima as the probable place of marking, while leaving the precise centre of manufacture open. One of five salt cellars discussed from the Atocha recovery, this example is distinguished by its unusual construction, rich ornament and remarkable preservation.

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