‘Anthropomorphic Collectibles’

Apple salt & pepper shakers
made in Japan, 1960s

I have discovered that people love, really LOVE anthropomorphic figurines. Ebay even has a section “Anthropomorphic Collectibles”. These apples with startlingly large faces – reminiscent of early manga- have another thing going for them: they are functional salt and pepper shakers.

The shakers are part of a larger apple-faced set that includes a cookie jar [how collectable are cookie jars!] teapot, creamer and cup and saucers. Like many OTT things, I find that less is more- when you put the whole collection together the sum of the parts is less than the whole. You can have too much of a good thing. [And this coming from an avowed kitscher-lover!] My idea would be mix ‘n’ match with other faced ceramics – and make a sort of kitsch family.

The shakers are in great vintage condition, but have lost their original cork stoppers. All the shakers I have collected that used cork stoppers are in this state- it seems the cork only lasted a decade or two.

The apple shakers are for sale: $AU35

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MCM Carlton Ware

Carlton Ware ‘Contemporary Ware’ leaf dishes and salt and pepper shakers
made in England 1951-1961

Many people are familiar with the botanically-themed Carlton Ware ceramics [and having a background in horticulture I am quite ‘familiar’ with them myself.] Various daisy/foxglove/wild rose motifs were made in the 30s, 40s and continuing into the 50s, but in 1951 a modernist theme emerged. These leaf-shaped dishes and cubic salt and pepper shakers are an example of this and were dubbed ‘Contemporary Ware.’

The four monochrome dishes have a wonderful abstract leaf shape, and so appeal to me. I also like the austerity and the somewhat obtuse cube-shaped S & P shakers. These pieces are now quite hard to come by, and are all in perfect condition.

This set of contemporary ware leaf dishes and salt and pepper shakers are for sale: $AUD175

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Salty & Peppy [sold]

Salty and Peppy
made in Japan, 1960s

Salty and Peppy are novelty salt and pepper shakers- in the form of cats- which pop out of their timber barrels when those condiments are required, and then settle back into them afterwards. The whole ensemble is timber- and their lidded caps screw off to allow the insertion of the salt and pepper.

The cats’ faces- all hand-painted- seem to have a mildly startled expression; perhaps due to finding themselves ensconced in a barrel in the first place. Certainly they are aware that they are part of quite a mixed metaphor!

The salt and pepper shakers have never been used, and the timber is in ‘as-new’ condition. A must for salt and pepper shaker collectors- or cat fanciers- or indeed cat-loving salt and pepper shaker collectors.

Salty and Peppy are for sale; $AUD45