The earliest silver salts were large ceremonial pieces that graced the tables of the aristocracy. At formal dinners, the piece was passed around the landed gentry but not offered to the common serfs. Hence the expression, 'not worth his salt'. The typical sterling silver salt cellar first appeared in the early seventeen hundreds, answering to the dining needs of the growing middle class. The forms developed in these early years, the trencher salt, the cauldron salt, the capstan salt and the boat shaped salt remained the most popular designs from that day till this. These antique silver salt cellars were designed to remain in place on the table, with each diner having his own salt. Traditionally, a large silver salt spoon lay on the table in front of the salt cellar, but today most people prefer a small spoon that lies in the salt or to simply 'pinch'. Although they were never used this way originally, today people often like to use a pair of salts, one for salt, one for pepper.