Today we take for granted that indispensable pair of spices that grace every dining table in a matching pair of shakers…salt & pepper! But did you know it wasn't until 1911 when the Morton Salt Company found a filler that would coat the salt crystals and keep them from clumping, so that a shaker could be dependably used to dispense the salt. Before that salt took on moisture too easily and would form a hard chunk. It took a few more years before novelty salt and pepper shakers became popular. In 1923 the porcelain company in German of Hummel fame, Goebel, introduced some novelty salt and pepper shakers. Japan and the United States were producing many novelty shakers, which could be purchased for ten or 15 cents. Today most sell in the $6 to $20 range. Everybody knows of a relative who collected salt and pepper shakers. They were an inexpensive gift to give as well. That is why so many souvenir shops had a large selection, a popular gift to bring to the folks back home!

Not all shakers were inexpensive. Different glass companies such as Mt. Washington, Challinor, Taylor and Co., Eagle Glass and US Glass produced lovely art glass salt and pepper shakers, which today run in the $50 to $100 range. They are lovely in color, texture and often have delicate hand applied or painted details. The most expensive figural ceramic shakers, are most likely the large Little Red Riding Hood salt and pepper shakers by Hull. The four and one-half inch shakers sell in the $300 range, while the smaller ones are in the $125 range.

Salt and pepper shakers are made of many different materials: ceramic (earthenware, stoneware, bone china, porcelain), plastic, metal, glass and wood. Just a word of warning with silver salt and pepper shakers, never leave salt in the shakers when not using them; with moisture in the air, it will corrode the metal.

Salt and peppers come in different sizes as well. Individual sets were made to go with each place setting, and are quite small, an inch or two. The largest, four or five inches high, are the range shakers, for use near the stove in cooking, with a variety of sizes in between.

Salt and pepper shakers are also classified by types, such as condiments, nesters, holders, go-togethers, huggers, mechanical, advertising, one piece, nodders and range shakers. Condiments sets have the salt and pepper and a third piece, such as a mustard pot. Nesters stack one on top of another, such as my pig driving the car pictured, the pig is one shaker, the car the other. Holders have a base from which the shakers hang, such as a pair of squirrels hanging from a tree trunk. Go togethers are two differing shakers, that compliment each other such as a baseball and glove. Huggers are two shakers that fit together, such as hugging bears or lambs. Mechanical shakers have moving parts, such as my toaster with the toast that pops up as the salt and pepper shakers that is pictured. Advertising shakers were put out by a company to promote their product. For example, I've had shakers that looked like miniature Heinz ketchup bottles. One-piece shakers are just that, all one piece, for those folks who like an equal amount of salt and pepper delivered with one shake! Nodder salt and peppers sit in a cradle so that they balance and move gently back and forth or "nod". Range shakers are large shakers with handles that were near the range and handy for seasoning as you cooked, such as my Hall Autumn Leaf range shakers pictured.

So you may collect salt and peppers by the material they are made of or the type of shakers, or you may collect by a theme, such as comical, animal, Christmas, fruit, vegetable or character-or whatever strikes your fancy. Some people collect salt and peppers to go with other items by a particular maker. Pictured are the Smiley & Winnie Pig salt and pepper shakers, which are made by Shawnee. A Shawnee Smiley and Winnie Pig collector would probably have a cookie jar and creamer in addition to their shakers. Maybe you collect cat figurines, you would probably have a pair or two of salt and peppers in your collection as well, such as my Siamese cats pictured. Some people even collect by color, so their salt and peppers coordinate with their kitchen colors. Salt and pepper add great flavor to food, so why not add a little flavor to your kitchen décor as well with some fun or fancy salt and pepper shakers. The way you collect is really up to you, whatever causes you to smile is a good place to start to collect this miniature art form with a practical function.

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Denise Kelley Antiques is located in Sandusky, two blocks West of the M-19 and M-46 intersection, and then just off M-46 at 26 Austin Street in Sandusky. I am open Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday 1 PM to 5 PM and Saturday 10 AM to 5 PM. Please come by and visit my seven room antique Sears house; you may just want to take a piece of the past home with you!