Salt cellars, or open salts, were used before salt was refined,
processed, and free-flowing. During the 1800's, it was served in a
master salt by the host and passed around to the dinner guests. Each
place setting had its own smaller salt. A small silver spoon was used
to sprinkle the salt onto one's food.
In 1858, the screw-top salt shaker was invented by John Mason. Some of
the earlier salt shakers were salt mills, similar to the pepper mills
we use today. There was a piece that would break the salt up into
smaller pieces. Then, in 1871, when salt became more refined, ceramic
shakers were produced with perforated tops. The first patent applied
for a salt shaker was issued September 15, 1863 to C.P. Crossman. It
was for an agitator which would break up the salt since it always
formed lumps and would clog up the holes in the top.
The salt shakers now come in various shapes, sizes and material. One
of the most common item in the souvenir shops from the twenties to the
sixties was the salt and pepper shakers. Many were made in Japan, but
several American companies made them, as well.
The figural shakers have become quite collectible.They can be found
in every imaginable shape and material; fruit, vegetables, cartoon
characters, animals, birds, household items, etc. There are also some
that are a combination of the salt on one end and the pepper on the
other. The miniature shakers are the hardest to find and values are
rising. They were made by a company in California named "Arcadia
Ceramics". They measured about 1-1/2" tall and were so small that a
cork could not be used to close the hole for the salt. There were
instructions to close the hole with tape.
There was also advertising shakers and premium shakers. They were made
by F & F Mold & Die Works of Dayton, Ohio. Their shakers were
plastic with painted details for companies represented. Some were
Quaker Oats, Kools Cigarettes, and Ken-L-Ration Pet Food. The
figurals that F & F produced were Aunt Jemima and Uncle Mose,
Willie and Millie Penguin, and Fido and Fifi. There are also the Black
Couples, which are valued from $50.00-$65.00. The Luzianne Mammy
shakers are worth about $175.00(green skirted version). The Campbell
Soup Kids shakers are valued about $50.00.
RESOURCES
Garage Sale & Flea Market Annual - Third Edition
Kovel's Antiques & Collectibles Price List - 1991
Schroeder's Antiques Price Guide - Eighteenth Edition, 2000 Kim's Salt and Pepper Shaker Page
Next month's newsletter will feature "Rookwood Pottery".
