Novelty Salt and Pepper Shakers

One of the biggest areas of salt and pepper collecting is novelty shakers – call them fanciful, whimsical, or just plain fun, these salt and pepper shaker sets can be found in all kinds of themes: holiday, hobby, professions, figural…you name it!

There are so many different types of novelty shakers that some people like to narrow their field of collecting to something more specific, such as dogs, snowmen, anthromorphics (these are non-human subjects with human characteristics, like tomatoes with smiling faces), or golf, to name just a very few.

While you can find plenty in more focused categories such as these, once the collecting bug bites you, chances are you’ll want to expand your collection by widening its scope. A collector of dog S&Ps may decide to collect all types of animals; a snowman collector may start including all Christmas-themed sets; a person collecting fish might want other types of nautical shakers; car collectors could add other types of transportation; and a collection of golf-related shakers could grow to include other sports as well.

In addition, there are those “cross-over collectors”, who collect novelty S&Ps that fit into the same category of their other collections. I know someone who collects anything and everything related to victrolas – this person also has a collection of Nipper (the famous RCA Victor dog) S&Ps because they correspond to the victrola era. I love teapots, so whenever I see a set of teapot salt and pepper shakers, you bet I’m interested!

Mainly I collect whatever S&Ps strike my fancy, which many other people do as well. It’s that indescribable “something” that draws us to certain sets, and if the price is right or the piece is striking enough, our collections grow. Even though collections like this may not have a common theme, they sure can be interesting and the choices are endless!

Besides adding fun and richness to your own world, collecting is a great common ground to meet people with the same interest. Look for active collector’s clubs, like the Novelty Salt and Pepper Collectors Club. This well-organized nation-wide group even has local chapters and national conventions! Where else can you share your collecting stories with others who understand perfectly the thrill of the hunt? Not only is this a wonderful way to expand on your “collection” of friends, you can have a lot of your questions answered, get help with identification, and find out about resources, obscure shops, and other great stuff you’d never know about on your own.

Of course, there are plenty of price guides out there to help you become more knowledgeable about the current value of sets you already own or you’re interested in buying. This can be important not only for buying and selling, but price guides can also help you avoid Buyer’s Remorse if, for example, you see a set in a shop priced at $25 and you know from your price guide that it’s only worth $5 (I actually saw this in a shop once). Price guides can also help you draw up a “wish list” of sets you never even knew existed.

You can find a nice selection of salt and pepper sets at Collector’s Cottage; just click on the Salt and Pepper link in the right-hand sidebar.

Cabinet Cups…Not Your Everyday Teacup!

More works of art than utilitarian pieces, cabinet cups and saucers (also called cabinet ware) are highly decorated, richly colored pieces originally commissioned as gifts for royalty as early as the 1700s. Although entire tea, chocolate, and coffee sets were made and used as symbols of status, I personally would never consider using these gorgeous pieces for anything more than cabinet displays.

Most of these unique pieces are valued in the hundreds and thousands of dollars – just for one cup and saucer set. An entire service would be a very rare find and would be priced accordingly. They were crafted by top artisans and porcelain makers in many countries including England, France, Russia, United States, Germany, Denmark, and Vienna.

Some of the striking adornments on these lavish pieces include silver overlay, gilt work, beading, hand-painted portraits and scenes, applied fine porcelain flowers, relief figures, coats of arms, and interiors coated with gold or with additional artwork.

The handles on cabinet cups can hold an interest all their own – besides many of them having unusual, ornate shapes and gilt work, some are shaped to reflect the cup’s theme. Here are several examples:
~ Dresden cup by Carl Thieme with a twig handle;
~ Dresden cup by A. Hamann has a high curled bird handle;
~ Thieme Dresden cup in the shape of a swan, with the gold handle being the swan’s curled neck and head, complete with intricate feather detailing;
~ Rosenthal cup with a gilt eagle handle;
~ Royal Vienna cup with three paw feet and ornate swan handle;
~ Royal Vienna cup with entwined snakes handle;
~ Capodimonte type cup (circa 1890s) with divided branch handle and grape extensions.

The histories behind some of these original pieces are as rich as the work itself, so if you’re lucky enough to buy one, try to check into the company and artist. You may find yourself with a wonderful conversation piece!

You can find some wonderful cup and saucer sets, from cabinet types to fine china to dinnerware at Collector's Cottage. Just click on the link in the right-hand sidebar.

Salt and Pepper Collections

Years ago, when I first heard that someone collected salt and pepper sets, I was a bit dumbfounded. “Why would anyone want to hoard such dull things?” I naively thought. Little did I know at the time that salt and pepper sets weren’t just the standard glass or ceramic restaurant-style sets I’d always known. In fact, there’s an endless number of unique styles, shapes and colors, many of which are more like artistic miniatures than utilitarian shakers. These can add a touch of charm, class or even whimsy to a table, or they can be displayed as a collection unto themselves.

The decision as to what types of shakers to collect is as individual as the collectors themselves. You can focus on a particular maker like Nippon, Meissen, or Noritake, a certain color or type of finish such as lustre, a specific era like Depression, a subcategory such as birds, people, holiday, souvenir, huggers, or just any “must haves” for your own collection even if there’s no common theme…the list goes on and on. No matter what you choose, there’s one thing that’s certain – collecting salt and pepper shakers is fun…and affordable.

For those who love salt and pepper sets, it can be a pretty addictive hobby (but in a good way!). I’ve read about collectors with hundreds and even thousands of salt and pepper shaker sets in their collection, and somehow they manage to display every single one! One good way to keep track of your collection is to catalog each set – this can also help you avoid wasting money on a duplicate of a set you forgot you already had.

Over the next few weeks I’ll be discussing more specific types of salt and pepper collections such as novelty shakers, nesting shakers, glass range sets, Depression shakers etc - even a bit about spice sets. I’ll also recommend web sites for those who are interested in these lovely collectibles. Feel free to add comments about any unusual shaker sets of your own!

You'll find a good selection of all types of salt and pepper shakers at Collector's Cottage - just click on the link in the right-hand sidebar.

Detecting Repairs

If you’re going to spend your hard-earned money adding pieces to your collection, you want to be sure the pieces you choose are in the best condition possible. The better the condition, the higher the value. This is true across the board for both antiques and collectibles – condition is everything. To get the best for your money, you need to become a Repair Detective.

China, Porcelain, Pottery - You can find most unrepaired damage on china and pottery easily through touch and close visual inspection. But good repairs may be more difficult to spot. Look for variations in the color of the glaze, paint or pattern, which can indicate that someone tried to conceal a repair. Yellowing of old glue is another dead giveaway. You can also feel a difference between the original surface and the repaired area, even if it’s been painted or glazed over.

A black light is another method used to detect repairs. Holding the light up to the piece in a dark room should reveal the presence of adhesives through a different kind of “glow”; this is especially true with art repairs – Steve Wynn’s expensive mishap with his $139 million Picasso (now devalued by $54 million after he accidentally poked a hole in it with his elbow) has been professionally repaired and is said to only be detectable with a black light.

Some people also use the scratch test, where a pin is used to gently scratch the surface of the suspected repair. The original glaze will not have any “give”, but the repair will. Of course, this must be done with the permission of the dealer, as it will damage the repair.

Glass, Crystal – It can be more difficult to spot a small chip or crack on a heavily cut piece of glass or crystal. Carefully running your fingers over the surface will help you find inconsistencies in the pattern, which could indicate a chip. A good test for cracks is to carefully flick the edge of the piece with your fingernail – cracked pieces will sound more like a “thunk” than a “ring”.

On expensive pieces of any kind, it’s best to get a detailed receipt from the dealer, which includes not only the age of the piece, but also its condition and a money-back guarantee if the piece turns out not to be as it was represented. This way, if you get home and your black light test picks up an extremely fine hairline crack or the piece is appraised as a reproduction, you can return it (as long as it wasn’t sold “as is”). Professionals can tell the difference between old and new damage.

Always check online sellers' item descriptions for mention of damage. If none is mentioned, you can email a direct question to confirm the item's condition; this way you have it in writing. Honest sellers have no qualms about sharing this information.

You'll find complete descriptions of item conditions at Collector's Cottage; click on China & Porcelain and/or Glass links for examples.

Lusterware's Luminous Past

You can't miss it...you know what it is immediately. That beautifully lustrous - sometimes even iridescent - metallic sheen on porcelain pieces of varying colors can be nothing but lustreware. That tell-tale finish is created by the addition of a thin film of metallic oxides (sometimes copper and silver) over a glaze, which is then fired. Probably the best known and maybe the most commonly seen today are those made in Japan, and they include everything from salt and pepper sets to tea sets to jugs and bowls. But did you know that lustreware may have originated as early as the 9th century?

Pottery experts say that the most beautiful and colorful lustreware was found in Samarra, made in the 9th century by Islamic potters. In later centuries it was made in Iran, Egypt, Spain, Italy, England, and Japan.

Lustreware is a pretty popular collectible and can range quite a bit in price, even though back around the 1920s-1940s, those that were imported from Japan were considered inexpensive dime-store stuff (not anymore!). The most common lustreware colors we find today are orange and blue, but there's also mother-of-pearl, pink, yellow and copper. English lustre is generally more expensive than Japanese. Most English lustreware was made during the first half of the 19th century and is highly collectible; today, you'll usually only see a good quantity of it come onto the market when a collection is being dismantled and sold.

You can find a nice selection of lustreware at Collector's Cottage - just click on the link in the right sidebar for China and Porcelain.