Edition #3: Nesting Salt & Pepper Shakers
There's Kitschy and then there's this.
Ceramic salt & pepper shakers were a staple in mid-century homes and have continued to hold niche popularity across the US. Everything from anthropomorphic animals to tourist souvenirs, there is a set of shakers for it. There’s even a Novelty Salt & Pepper Shaker club that holds conventions, complete with elaborate commemorative sets.
Vintage Mint Look Alike Of The Hulk As A Ceramic Pair Of Wrestlers As Salt And Pepper Shakers on Etsy: '90s vintage is where it's at when it comes to salt and pepper shakers. The Hulk Hogan-ification is a bit worrisome, though.
Vintage Rocking Salt And Pepper Shakers, Grandma In Her Rocking Chair on Etsy: Look at this grandma and her rocker! There were a few of these floating around while researching, actually. Now to decide if she's the salt or the pepper.
Enesco Lunar Rover with Astronauts Pepper Shaker Set Moon Buggy on eBay: Even if you don’t use this as an actual functioning S&P set, this is a great piece of home decor. Complete with box!
Vintage Unbranded Stackable Bowling Pins And Ball Salt And Pepper Shakers on eBay: What a fun little gift. I saw multiples of many of the S&P sets above, but this was the only bowling one like this that I saw.
Cowboy Stacker Salt And Pepper Shakers Made In Japan Circa 1950s on Etsy: This one is officially my favorite. The look on his face is just weird enough to immediately know that this is a mid-century piece of ceramic.
Circus Monkey Salt & Pepper on Etsy: My circus, my monkey. The face of this simian is maybe not the most compelling, but the balancing act surely is.
My Two Front Teeth Nesting Salt & Pepper Shakers Vtg Ceramic Arizona Souvenir on eBay: Souvenir salt & pepper shakers were a Thing! Most of them not as creepy (like this lovely Niagara Falls set) but it is oddly endearing.
Vintage Telephone Salt & Pepper Shaker Set - Cooks Club on eBay: While not as old as some of the others, this telephone set is pretty much perfect.
Stangl Cherubim Angel Stacking Salt-pepper Shakers on Etsy: This adorable cherub with tiny blue wings is actually highly collectable.
Eggs A La Carte, Shopping Cart, Groceries, Salt And Pepper Shaker, Allyson Nage on Etsy: Eggs a la cart(e)!!!!!!
Honorable Mentions
So many more animals:
What terms were searched:
Novelty Salt & Pepper Shakers
Nesting Salt & Pepper Shakers
Ceramic Condiment Set
Kitsch Salt & Pepper
Welcome to Finder’s Keepers
This is the newsletter dedicated to leaving no vintage stone unturned. Each edition will cater to a rabbit hole that I fell down one night and include an assortment of vintage finds that make you question “Why did anyone own this?” followed quickly by “Should I own this?”
My method is simple: I attach a keyword or phrase to the item and go digging, spending hours each week combing through hundreds of pages of Etsy and Ebay bric-a-brac until I’ve seen it all. It’s chaotic but satisfactory, like looking through every rack and bin at a thrift store for those that partake in the more visceral act of going in person. I like to sit on my couch.