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December, 2019 The Antique Shoppe Page 29
SANTA CLAUS SALT AND PEPPER SHAKERS

ADD SPICE TO CHRISTMAS

By Larry LeMasters
LeMasters’ Antique News Service

While salt and pepper shakers have been around Santa salt and pepper shaker set, look in antique
for about 100 years or more, they did not become stores, flea markets, garage sales, estate sales, and
a popular collectible until the 1940s when the auctions. Places where people sell their personal,
modern salt and pepper shakers were born. The old stuff are where the unique items will be found.
advent of inexpensive, modern ceramics allowed Chips and cracks, even harmless, hidden ones,
for the creation of numerous new ceramic forms, lessen value considerably; so do not buy a damaged
among these was thousands of ceramic salt and set if at all possible. Be especially cautious about
pepper shakers that collectors hunger for. getting caught up in a bidding war for a shaker set
As it became easier to make shakers in a at an auction. Often, after you have paid far too
variety of different shapes and sizes, the market much for a set, you will find that one of the shakers
for souvenir and novelty shakers grew. Salt has a crack or has been repaired. Don’t overpay
and pepper shakers soon were found in every for items in your collection.
conceivable shape, but each To keep your Santa shaker collection in
year, during the month of good condition, prevent breakage by not
December, one type of salt allowing small children to handle the
and pepper shaker out shook shakers. Santas are cute and children
all the others—Santa Claus will naturally want to touch your
shakers. pieces, but once an accident happens,
Over the years, the You should also look for you may never be able to replace
materials used to make appropriate markings if you the broken shaker. Shakers that are
Santa Claus salt and are looking for a particular left out for viewing must be dusted
pepper shakers include manufacturer, such as a Holt to keep oil and dust particles from
ceramic, wood, metal, glass, Howard “Winking Santa” accumulating and causing damage.
and plastics. salt and pepper set. Many Also to insure that paint does not
The most common reason for collecting salt and pepper shakers will crack or fade too quickly, avoid
Santa shakers is impulsive buying. Women enjoy have a manufacturer’s label on them. placing your shakers in direct
buying a cute Santa salt and pepper shaker and Famous manufacturers have been reproduced for sunlight.
from that innocent, impulsive buy, a collection years, so be careful when buying. Another The most popular type of Santa Claus salt and
blossoms. Other collectors inherit their mother or designer/manufacturer that collectors pepper shakers are “Kissers,” where Santa and Mrs.
grandmother’s Christmas decorations that include love is Jim Shore, so watch for his Claus appear to be kissing as in Mwah’s “Santa
a couple of sets of Santa salt and pepper shakers Father Christmas set of Santa salt & and Mrs. Claus” shakers ($10). Another popular
and memories or guilt force them not to throw the pepper shakers ($25) for they will collector theme is “Go Withs” where the salt and
inherited pieces in the trash. Soon collections take increase in value. pepper shakers are not identical but they share
on a life of their own as they grow with each new a common theme, such as Goebel’s “Christmas
find. Morning” ($100) where Santa is the saltshaker
In many ways, a collection of Santa salt and and a toy bag is the pepper shaker.
pepper shakers is the perfect collection. Most It never hurts to know a few useless
shakers are inexpensive to buy (averaging facts about your collection, so here
between $5 and $25 for a set), so having a are some useless Santa Clause salt
collection does not cost a lot of money. They also and pepper facts. Contrary to popular
make inexpensive but useful gifts, so friends and belief, the saltshaker is not always the
relatives will quickly increase your collection once shaker with the most or largest holes. In
they realize how easy it is to buy you a gift. Europe, the shaker with the most holes has,
The internet has also helped increase the size of historically, been the pepper shaker. And,
collections since collectors from all over the world superstitiously, salt shakers are usually
now have access to unusual Santa salt and pepper displayed on the right and pepper shakers on
shakers, especially ones from foreign countries or the left.
far away regions. If you attempt For further reading, try Salt and Pepper Shakers,
Perhaps the best reason to collect Santa salt to limit your collection III by Helene Guarnaccia (Collector Books 1991)
and pepper shakers, especially cute Santa to a particular and Antique Santa Claus Collectibles by David
ones, is simply because they make you smile, manufacturer, such Longest (Collector Books 2008).
bringing warmth and Christmas cheer to your as Holt Howard,
home. But for others, the increase in value over be aware that SHOWN TOP TO BOTTOM: Top Center- Goebel porcelain
time makes them want to locate a particularly hard there will not be “Christmas Morning” salt and pepper shaker, sitting on base;
new; $100. This is an excellent example of a “Go With” set.
to find 1940s kissing Santa salt and pepper shaker. many Santa salt and Top Left- New, “Mwah” collection Santa and Mrs. Claus
Whatever your reason for collecting, there are pepper shakers in your “kissers” salt and pepper shakers; $10. Top Right- Vintage,
lots of Santa shakers out there. collection; however, a Norcrest Santa and Mrs. Claus salt and pepper shakers with
Beginning collectors should be aware of some collection of Holt Howard shakers (I think HH original box that is valued at $70. Bottom Left- Jim Shore Santa
of the things that add value to a Santa Claus salt manufactured about 6–8 different Santa shakers) Salt 7 Pepper shakers, featuring Father Christmas; NIB; $25.
and pepper shaker collection. Always look for high would increase in value and are quite fun to see. Bottom Right- Unusual, Cowboy Santa and Cowgirl Mrs. Claus
quality in the manufacturing process—paint that Also, when you stumble on a unique set (not salt and pepper shakers that are valued at $145. Bottom Center-
won’t flake off, heavier ceramics, good detail, and a mass-produced item) or a limited quantity set, Vintage, 1950s, Holt Howard Santa salt & pepper shakers, set
bright colors. you will want to snatch it up. To find a unique came complete with matching candelabra; $20.