Salt and pepper shakers

Salt and pepper shakers or salt and pepper pots, of which the first item can also be called a salt cellar in British English,[1] are condiment dispensers used in Western culture that are designed to allow diners to distribute grains of edible salt and ground peppercorns. Salt and pepper shakers are sometimes held in a cruet-stand.

"Salt shaker" redirects here. For other uses, see Salt shaker (disambiguation).
Salt and pepper shakers, along with a sugar dispenser
Georgian silver pepper shaker, or pepperette, hallmarked London 1803

History and usage

Salt and pepper shakers can be made from a variety of materials, including plastic, glass, metal, and ceramic.[2]

An 1872 newspaper stated: "A pepper-box for salt is the latest Yankee invention."[3]

Salt shakers became increasingly common after anti-caking agents were introduced by the Morton Salt company in 1911[4].[5] The Great Depression of the 1930s boosted the popularity of salt and pepper shakers as global ceramics producers concentrated on inexpensive items.[5]

Except in the most casual dining establishments, they are usually provided as a matched set, sometimes distinguishable only by the number of holes on the top of the shaker. Designs range from small, plain glass screw cap containers (invented by John Landis Mason, inventor of the Mason jar) to more ornate works of art. Sometimes the design refers to some pair of related objects—such as a replica of a West Highland White Terrier containing salt and a Scottish Terrier containing pepper. Designs may also relate to specific occasions or holidays. As a result of this diversity of design, collecting salt and pepper shakers is a hobby.[6][7][8][9][10][11] Design of salt and pepper shakers has also been used to transmit cultural perspectives about race[12][13] and other cultural values.[14]

Two Museums of Salt and Pepper Shakers in the US and Spain are dedicated to showing the variety and history of salt and pepper shakers through the ages. Żupny Castle in Poland also contains a collection of salt shakers.

Distinguishing salt from pepper

The number of holes varies by culture, health, and taste. In the United States where excessive salt is considered unhealthy, salt is stored in the shaker with the fewer holes, but in parts of Europe where pepper was historically a rare spice, this is reversed.[15] In the UK, salt was often poured onto the side of one's plate and used for dipping, rather than shaken across the whole dish, hence salt cellars having a single, larger, hole.

The shakers may also be simply labelled "pepper" and "salt" or "p" and "s" (in some cases the latter may be formed of the holes for pouring), or may be colored white for salt and black for pepper. Many salt and pepper shakers are transparent, in which case they need not be otherwise distinguished.

As an alternative to salt and pepper shakers, pepper may be distributed at the table by use of a pepper grinder, while salt may be distributed from a salt cellar or a salt mill.

See also

References
  1. "Salt cellar definition and meaning | Collins English Dictionary". www.collinsdictionary.com.
  2. Longenecker, E. Z. (1970) "Using the Slush Casting Method to Make Salt and Pepper Shakers". School Shop. 29(6) p. 56.
  3. "Image 2 of The Albany register (Albany, Or.), May 10, 1872". Library of Congress, Washington, D.C. 20540 USA. Retrieved 2023-10-15.
  4. "Her Debut". Morton Salt. Retrieved 2023-08-03.
  5. Derek Workman (23 January 2012). "Would You Like Some Salt and Pepper? How About 80,000 Shakers' Worth?". Smithsonian Magazine. Smithsonian Institution. Retrieved 31 March 2013.
  6. The Complete Salt and Pepper Shaker Book, Mike Schneider, Schiffer Publishing (1993), ISBN 0-88740-494-4, ISBN 978-0-88740-494-8
  7. Florence's Big Book of Salt & Pepper Shakers: Identification & Value Guide, Gene Florence, Collector Books (2002), ISBN 1-57432-257-5, ISBN 978-1-57432-257-6
  8. Collecting Salt & Pepper Shaker Series, Irene Thornburg, Schiffer Publishing (1998), ISBN 0-7643-0493-3, ISBN 978-0-7643-0493-4
  9. Salt & Pepper Shakers IV: Identification & Values, Helene Guarnaccia, Collector Books (1993), ISBN 0-89145-547-7, ISBN 978-0-89145-547-9
  10. 1002 Salt and Pepper Shakers: With Prices, Larry Carey and Sylvia Tompkins, Schiffer Publishing (1995), ISBN 0-88740-789-7, ISBN 978-0-88740-789-5
  11. Collector's Encyclopedia of Salt and Pepper Shakers: Second Series (Figural and Novelty 2nd Series), Melva Davern, Collector Books (1990), ISBN 0-89145-407-1, ISBN 978-0-89145-407-6
  12. Holt, T. (1995) "Marking: Race, Race-making, and the Writing of History", American Historical Review. 100(1) p. 8.
  13. Dubin, S. (1987) "Symbolic Slavery: Black Representations in Popular Culture", Social Problems. 34(2) p 126.
  14. Hoffman, D.G. (1950) "Folk Tales of Paul Bunyan: Themes, Structure, Style, Sources," Western Folklore. 9(4) p. 316.
  15. "The Salt and Pepper Shaker Museum Gatlinburg TN The most asked Question". Thesaltandpeppershakermuseum.com. 2014-02-25. Retrieved 2016-11-24.
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