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{{Short description|Small flat-bottomed vessel with a narrow neck}}
{{About|small bottles|stands for condiment containers|cruet-stand|the town in France|Cruet, Savoie}}
{{more citations needed|date=January 2010}}
[[File:Cruet bottle, 1780–1800, V&A Museum no. 118-1907.jpg|thumb|upright|Cruet bottle, 1780–1800, [[V&A Museum]] no. 118-1907]]

A '''cruet''' ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|k|r|uː|ᵻ|t}}), also called a '''caster''',<ref>''"caster"'', ''The American Heritage Dictionary,'' 2nd College Edition.  Houghton Mifflin. 1982.</ref> is a small flat-bottomed vessel with a narrow neck. Cruets often have a lip or spout and may also have a handle. Unlike a small [[carafe]], a cruet has a [[Stopper (plug)|stopper]] or lid. Cruets are normally made of glass, ceramic, stainless steel, or copper.

==Uses==
[[File:Vinegar creuset.jpeg|thumb|upright|A cruet designed to serve [[vinegar]] at the table]]
Cruets today typically serve a [[culinary]] function, holding liquid condiments such as [[olive oil]] and [[balsamic vinegar]]. They often have a filter built into them to act as a strainer, so that vinegar containing herbs and other solid ingredients will pour clear. Cruets also serve as decanters for [[lemon juice]] and other oils.

They are also used for the serving of the wine and water in the Christian [[Mass (liturgy)|Mass]], especially those of the [[Roman Catholic]], [[Lutheran]], and [[Anglican]] traditions.

==History==
<!-- This paragraph appears to contradict itself. Are cruets Biblically ancient OR were they of medieval ecclesiastic origin? -->
The [[History of the English language|English]] word "cruet" [[etymology|originates]] with the [[Old French]] {{Lang|fro|crue}}, "earthen pot".<ref>
"[http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?term=cruet Cruet]". Online Etymology Dictionary. Douglas Harper. 2001. Retrieved 2009-01-01.
</ref>
Some{{quantify|date=April 2018}} speculate that the early use of cruets was ecclesiastical {{Citation needed|date= May 2007}}—there is for example Biblical use of a "cruse of oil", a jug or jar to hold liquid (I [[Books of Kings|Kings]] 17:16). 

A few cruets dating from the [[Medieval ages]] still exist today. Its culinary use, however, was first introduced in the late 17th century. [[Cardinal Mazarin]] had a pair of salad cruets on his dining table at his home in France,{{Citation needed|date= May 2007}} one for olive oil and the other for vinegar. 

The use of oil and vinegar cruets rapidly spread throughout Italy, where oil and vinegar were already in frequent use. Oil and vinegar cruets are common on Italian and Portuguese tables to this day.{{Citation needed|date= January 2009}}

==Types==
[[File:Mair Pair of cruets set with gemstones 02.jpg|thumb|upright|Pair of silver cruets from the [[St. John's Archcathedral, Warsaw|Warsaw's Cathedral]] with letters A and V by Michael Mair, 1695-1700, Museum of the Warsaw Archdiocese]]

Cruets range from nominal decanters to the highly decorative [[cut glass]]. Some cruets are unusual, and can either be intended to be ornamental or functional.

During some [[Christianity|Christian]] religious ceremonies, primarily the [[Eucharist]], [[altar cruet]]s are used to keep the [[sacramental wine]] and water. These cruets are usually made of glass, though sometimes they are made of precious metals such as gold or silver. Cruets specifically intended for religious ceremonies come in pairs: one to contain water, often marked ''A'' for ''Aqua'', and one to contain wine, ''V'' for ''Vinum''. These two liquids are mixed during the portion known as the Preparation of the Gifts.

== See also ==

* [[Non-drip oil bottle|Non-drip oil cruet]], designed by Rafael Marquina in 1961

==References==
{{reflist}}

== External links ==
* {{commons category-inline|Cruets (condiment vessels)}}

{{CatholicMass|collapsed}}
{{Lutheran Divine Service}}

[[Category:Christian religious objects]]
[[Category:Serving and dining]]