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July, 2018 The Antique Shoppe Page 15
One collectible item is really a mass produced, will not appreciate
pair. If you have ever had a meal at SALT & PEPPER SHAKERS much, but hold on to the vintage
someone’s home, or at a restaurant, By Jeff Figler sets and the ones that are unique in
and let’s face it, who has not, you design.
are bound to see a couple of pieces Shaker sets can vary greatly
usually in the middle of the table. in value. For example, a pair of
They usually look similar, but one has American silver gilt and glass salt and
an “S” on it, the other a “P”. pepper shakers made around 1960
Okay, so I’ve given it away. Yes, were sold around $350.
they are salt and pepper shakers. Shaker sets of celebrities have also
Before I continue, please, before been auctioned. In 2010, there were
you use either one of them, look to ↑ 23 shakers owned by Lucille Ball auctioned in 2010 for $598.00 23 shakers owned by Lucille Ball that
see what you are using. Don’t be like went for $598.
my father did several years ago, and A pair of painted bisque salt and
then wondered why his food tasted pepper shaker from around 1920,
unusual. I don’t actually know the depicting a prancing black man and
full story as to why salt and pepper woman sold for $717, while a pair
were made a pair, but I do know of American silver novelty salt and
their history. pepper shakers from 1879 were sold
Before there were salt and pepper at a Heritage Auction in 2008 for
shakers as we have come to know $1195.
them, people in the Victorian period Naturally, the older and more
placed their salt in open cellars. The ornate, the more valuable the
salt came in rock form, and had to be shakers will be. A pair of Steuben
chipped off to be put on food. Seems Glass Works blue aurene salt and
like a lot of work to have salt on pepper shakers from 1912-1922
your salad. It sure is much easier to were sold for $2400 at auction. It
have the waiter help you or just do it really must take a collector who
yourself. really is excited about the items to
The early salt shakers actually Of course. There are purchase a salt and pepper shaker
were salt mills. There are some collectors set for that
They had a some shakers who collect much money.
piece inside that are very vintage salt and Of course, each
the shaker that expensive, pepper shaker collector’s
was used to depending on sets because of reasons for
break the salt their rarity, the memories buying any item
into pieces. condition, and they bring back is different.
When salt desirability. while they were But I must say
production Most shaker growing up. As that spending
became more sets can be with other types over $6000 on a
sophisticated, bought for of collectibles, salt and pepper
the pieces used between $5 shaker sets shaker set is a
to break the and $50, but will most likely bit much. Well,
salt were no other sets can appreciate that is what
longer needed. sell for several in value. The happened in a
As modern Tiffany Japanese hand-hammered silver & thousand set that are American silver novelty shakers from 1879 2013 Heritage
ceramics mixed metal shakers 1878-1891 sold for $6875. dollars. common, and sold for $1195.00 at a 2008 Heritage Auction. auction. A
became pair of Tiffany
popular in the Japanese hand-
1940s, salt and pepper shakers took hammered silver and mixed metal
off. There were made of various salt and pepper shakers from 1878-
designs and shapes. The market for 1891 were sold for $6875. That’s
the shakers steadily increased as the right. Almost $7000 for a pair of
ability to make the shaker increased. shakers. At least they were in good
Today, shakers are made in a condition with only light surface
variety of materials, including metal, scratching and nicks. I’m sure that
ceramics, glass, wood, and plastics. the buyer had a good reason to
Collectors are impressed with spend nearly $7000 on a shaker set.
shakers. But it was not until the My wife would have probably
advent of ceramics that shakers kicked me out of the house.
became more accessible, and
unique. As shakers became more Jeff Figler, one of the world's leading experts on
varied, the more shaker collectors collectibles, has authored over 600 published
articles, and six books on collecting. He is currently
there are. In addition, the internet a columnist for several magazines, including
has allowed more collectors to be Sports Business Journal, Sports Collectors Digest,
aware of shakers for sale. Collectors Journal, and others. His latest book,
Picker's Pocket Guide to Baseball Memorabilia by
Generally, salt and pepper shakers Krause Publications, was released December 2014.
are relatively inexpensive to collect. Painted bisque salt and pepper shakers circa 1920 sold for $717 at auction. You can contact Jeff at info@jefffigler.com or by
visiting his website www.collectingwithjeff.com