An ideal gift for any gift giving occasion. Our Grape Cluster oil & vinegar cruet is reminiscent of the vineyard harvest. It is individually beautifully hand blown. Elegant, yet not delicate, it was made to be durable and useful. Made of SIMAX glass, a European equivalent of PYREX. Each cruet comes with two corks and is shipped double boxed. Olive Oil and vinegar sold separately.

CRUETS, History and Info

A cruet is a small jug-shaped receptacle, usually with a lip or spout, a handle and a stopper or lid. It is a flat-bottomed with a narrow neck. It is similar to a carafe only cruets have stoppers or lid covers. In the Catholic world, cruets hold water, oil and wine placed at the altar for religious ceremonies. In the culinary world, cruets are small bottles used for serving liquid condiments like oil and vinegar, also lemon juice, garlic juice etc. Cruet is derived from the Dutch “Kruicke.”

Its earliest use was ecclesiastical and a few medieval examples still exist today. Its culinary use however was first introduced in the late 17th century. It was chronicled that the powerful Cardinal Mazzarino had a pair of salad cruets on his dining table at his home in France. One cruet for oil and the other for vinegar, the indispensable partner pieces for a perfect salad.

The use of cruets rapidly spread throughout Italy, where oil and vinegar were already in more frequent use. And ever since then every Italian table, cruets are ever present.

Types of Cruets

1. Double Cruets – also known as double bottles or double flasks are oil and vinegar bottles fused together with spouts or necks pointing in opposite directions to provide pouring from either without spilling from the other. Known as GEMEL from the zodiac sign Gemini – the Twins.
2. Triple Bottle – or multiple bottle is divided internally into three or more compartments each with its own mouth or spout.
3. Cut Crystal Cruets are usually heirloom quality and hand made. The ornate cut pieces are made from leaded crystal by master European craftsmen.

Cruet styles were as follows a simple cylindrical shape, gadrooned, fluted and those with globular bodies.

Cruets as gifts

Most people take gift-giving seriously and they often want to come up with gift ideas that are original and meaningful and most of all functional. Reasonably priced the gift must be somewhat unique and of premium quality.

Gourmet gifts are the best kind of gifts that could fit the description mentioned above. And gourmet gifts can cover numerous occasions i.e. weddings, housewarming gifts, anniversaries, mother’s day….practically every occasion there is.

One gourmet gift is the cruet or cruets. Most cruets cleverly blend style with function. Adding elegance and a touch of charm to the kitchen. When beautifully designed it is a good centerpiece for one’s dining table and a good conversation piece. Considered by some as an obscure item in the household cruets have various uses in the kitchen

They are popular for everything from cream to syrups to salad dressing. Oil and vinegar cruets are the most popular. They come either in two separate bottles placed tastefully on a tray or in double cruets as described above. Double cruets are unique all-in-one design keeping oil and vinegar in the same container without mixing. The outer compartment holds the oil and separates it from the inner compartment which holds the vinegar.

Decanter cruets are decorative bottle cruets used for holding alcoholic drinks. Some decanter cruets come with a set of goblets.

A myriad of wonderfully shaped elaborate cruets can be elegant and durable. Distinct work of arts that will be thought of for the time it was given. Cruets are ideal gifts that tastefully compliments every culinary décor. It adds sophistication to a simple room.

Tips for Examining Cruets

It is advised that when you examine other types of cruets with handles, always pick it up by the neck and not by the handle. You might break the handle off if it is damaged. Pay close attention to the area where the handle is joined to the body of the handle. This is susceptible to damage.

You can also pick a cruet by putting the thumb and several fingers around the neck and the forefinger over the top of the stopper. This is to avoid the stopper from falling out when the cruet is turned over when you examine the bottom of the cruet. It is however safest to remove stoppers prior to examining cruets.

The number of stoppers should match the number of cruet pieces in a set. Loss or damage of an original cruet stopper will lower the value by as much as 25%. An original stopper should turn snuggly in the neck of the cruet without wobbling.

It would be best to avoid cruets made of metal and ceramic which hide the contents.

Online gift shop and retailer

Cruets.com – features uniquely durable and functional hand-blown cruets. The site showcases unique innovations in cruets and discusses the functions of each design of cruet.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are cruets used only in the kitchen?
Cruets have various uses. It can also contain creams and lotions adding elegance and sophistication to one’s room or bathroom. It can serve as a soap dispenser for dish detergent also or liquid hand soap.

What are the materials used in making cruets?
Fine quality lead crystal, SIMAX borosilicate glass are just some of the materials used in making hand-blown cruets. Combined with elegance and style, durable cruets are of heirloom quality made this way and is also useful.

Glossary

Carafe - A glass or metal bottle, often with a flared lip, used for serving water or wine.

Heirloom - A valued possession passed down in a family through succeeding generations.
An article of personal property included in an inherited estate