Recreation of a 19th century Mexican Table Setting / Recreación de una mesa mexicana del siglo XIX "Cerámica y Cultura: The Story of Spanish and Mexican Mayólica" exhibit Museum of International Folk Art, (Museum of New Mexico), Santa Fe Photo by Blair Clark

Place settings as we know them today were not formalized until the 19th century. The emphasis before then was on displaying the breadth of objects that one had been able to acquire. Mayólica was used for dining, along with other ceramics from Spain, France, England, or China. These were combined with items of silver that might have been handed down in the family, and pewter, an inexpensive metal that was locally manufactured.

Salt cellars were often a prominent part of the table setting. In Medieval Spain, salt cellars were the first vessels to be set upon the table and the last to be put away. This ritual was based on Christian liturgy, representing the celebration of the Eucharist with the salt cellar as a symbol of the union between the dinner guests and God. The prevalence of salt cellars and spice holders also illustrates the importance of spices to the cuisine, both as a flavor enhancer and to hide the taste of rancid meats before the introduction of refrigeration.