Quick Tips for Collecting Holiday Shakers:
- Many of the most collectible holiday shakers are kitschy examples from the 1940s and '50s.
- Mr. and Mrs. Claus are perennial favorites with collectors and lovers of all things Christmas so crossover collecting appeal has the potential for adding value.
- Shakers in excellent condition with no chips, cracks and minimal crazing should be purchased to maximize their value over time.
- Many collections are built around a single theme or manufacturer, including newer shakers made by popular china companies.
- Lots of holiday shakers have been remade over the decades, some with near exact results. Some are marked as new collectibles, many are not. Take care when buying at vintage prices.
Over-the-Top Shaker Collections
Have you ever seen a massive collection of salt and pepper shakers? I’m talking hundreds and hundreds of sets on display in row upon row. It can be nothing short of overwhelming.
I’m not saying these types of collections aren’t interesting. They are, very much so, in a mind-boggling sort of way. But you don’t have to group all salt and pepper collections into that huge, over-the-top, extraordinary category.
Sometimes it’s much more fun to seek a smaller, more specialized collection. Think about a group of things that can be considered common on one hand and harder to find on the other. Shaker sets might really fit the bill here.
Just remember, you don’t have to buy every pair you see! If you pick and choose carefully, you won’t end up with one of those larger than life collections. Instead, you’ll have a wonderful grouping of pieces you’ll relish owning.
Specializing in Holiday Shakers
Specializing in holiday shakers is a perfect example of enjoying collectibles without getting totally carried away. They’re cute, fun and make a really interesting display to bring out during the season of all things festive. And there are lots of interesting options to ponder on your collecting forays.
Mr. and Mrs. Santa Claus have been a favorite shaker theme for holiday gift giving going back 50 years or so. Some of the most charming are the little Japanese china pieces featuring pointy “fur” collars and cuffs. There are even vintage Mr. and Mrs. Cowboy Santa sets around from the 1940s and ‘50s.
Look around a bit more and you might discover Santa salt shaker with a Christmas tree to hold pepper. Or, if Santa happens to be too commercial for you, look for the evergreen trees in pretty vintage pairs.
You can even find older sets of individual salt shakers in the original packaging that provide one for each guest at a holiday meal. Wouldn’t it be cute to sit a tiny plastic Christmas tree filled with savory seasoning at each place setting?
While all those older sets are still affordable, selling for under $25 in most cases, they’re not all that easy to find anymore. Never fear though, there are plenty of holiday choices in the newer category.
Collecting Newer Holiday Salt and Pepper Sets
If you’re in to more formal Christmas decorating these days, Fitz & Floyd has made some really beautiful shakers sets for many years now. One particular set features porcelain bells with flowing molded ribbons, golden tassels and holly sprigs.
Count on Fitz & Floyd for some fun as well. While you’ll find some items new in department stores, the secondary market will yield shakers shaped like gingerbread cookies, snowmen and Santa’s trusty boots at affordable prices.
Although the Fitz & Floyd mark, which is often just FF and a date, isn’t on the “vintage” list yet, many savvy decorators already collect these pieces. The collectible reproductions Christopher Radko marketed in years look just like ‘50s pieces, but have a modern mark to distinguish old from new. The santa and snowpeople shakers in this line are simply adorable.
Another well-known company making holiday shakers worth a second look is Lenox. From Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer to traditional styles adorned with holly and berries, the peppery pairs made by this company not only make great collectibles but nice gifts as well.
Of course, there are many “no-name” newer and vintage shakers you’ll find for sale everywhere from discount stores to flea markets. These can be fun to collect as well.
Look for pieces that are nicely decorated and fairly good quality, no matter what the price or origin may be. Check them for flaws and damage as well. In general, better quality pieces with little or no signs of wear will hold their value better as time passes whether they’ve aged two years or 20.
Decorating with Holiday Shakers
Most people won’t splurge on a set of holiday shakers to use on the table unless they match a dinnerware set. But incorporating a cute pair or two on a table that doesn’t “match” exactly, but coordinates nicely instead, can actually make more of a statement than too much of a good thing.
Groupings of similar items, like a few pairs of Mr. and Mrs. Claus shaker sets, can also be interesting on a buffet or across the top of your stove during the holidays. But don’t be afraid to take the shakers out of the kitchen and dining areas.
Holiday shakers look really pretty mixed in with other holiday decorations on a mantel. In fact, unless your friends and family pick them up for a closer look they probably won’t even realize they’re meant for seasonings. Just remember that seasonal shakers can be functional and fun, and enjoy spicing up your holiday table!
