Replica of the Famen Temple Gilded Makara Fish Tripod Silver Salt Holder

Historical records indicate that during the Tang Dynasty, tea was flavored with both salt and ground pepper. The salt tray unearthed from Famen Temple was specifically designed to hold salt and pepper. This discovery confirms that, in the Tang imperial court, tea was indeed seasoned with salt and pepper. The design of this elevated salt tray is remarkably imaginative, vividly beautiful, and highly artistic. Its shape closely resembles a three-dimensional arrangement of lotus leaves, lotus flowers, and lotus stamens, complete with delicate embellishments such as small fish and floral motifs—making it uniquely innovative and exquisite. This particular piece has never been mentioned in any tea-related texts or literature throughout history; its discovery marks the first-ever find of its kind. The salt tray consists of three main components: the tray base, the tray lid (including a stamen-shaped stem), and a three-legged stand, along with various accompanying accessories. Salt is placed on the tray surface, covered by a leaf-shaped lid. The top of the lid features a pair of interconnected lotus buds, which also serve as handles for the lid. The bud-shaped stems are hollow, dividing into upper and lower halves connected by hinges, allowing the lid to be opened. Inside the bud, ground pepper can be stored. The lotus bud and the tray lid are joined together using thick silver wire bent into a spring-like shape and welded securely. The three-legged stand is crafted from silver wire, with its lower section curved and evenly spaced to provide stable support for the tray, while the upper part is welded directly onto the tray base. In the middle of the stand, decorative floral ornaments made of silver wire are attached in a cross-shaped configuration, allowing them to sway gently—a feature that evokes the movement of fish leaping or flowers swaying, lending the entire piece an exceptionally ornamental and lively charm. The stand bears an inscription engraved on its surface: “Made in the ninth year of Weitong by the Wen Si Yuan, one silver-trimmed, gold-plated salt tray.” The inscribed areas have been coated with gold. The original unearthed salt tray stands 279 millimeters tall, with a tray diameter of 162 millimeters and a depth of 15 millimeters. Its total weight is 820.5 grams.