As early as the 1920s and 1940s is when state souvenir salt and peppershakers were sold and produced. As family “road trips” increased in popularity, and they sure did as folks could not get enough of seeing the United States by car, train, and their Air Streams. Gas prices were considerably low too so traveling the United States by way of a “road trip” was a great way to spend time together as a family and see the great country we live in and it is so much fun to pick up souvenirs along the way and souvenir salt and pepper shakers were the right size and could easily be packed and did not take up too much room. These shakers would either be stamped with the city/state/town where you picked them up or would have a sticker or label placed on them that indicated they were souvenirs from a particular city/state/location or town.
I look back with glee when I reminisce of the road trips we use to take; us kids in the backseat of the family station wagon, dog in the back, a cooler in the trunk with soda pops and sandwiches and the stops and visits into the local gift shops we would take on our way through a new city or town where we would pick out some little trinkets and S&P shakers. These were special times and today I can look at all the salt and pepper shakers we picked up on our sojourns across the USA and can’t help but feel a sense of nostalgia for those good-old-days!
Today, some of the most collectible souvenir salt and pepper shakers are the Southern memorabilia, a popular collectible known also as Black Americana, Black Memorabilia, and Black Face Collectibles, and while much of the design from this genre is focused on the stereotypical household Mammy and Cook, these images were on tea towels and tablecloths too and were widely available throughout the southern states, these are attracting many collectors today. Souvenir salt and peppershakers are increasing in value every year as more folks are drawn to their charm and they are getting scarcer and more difficult to come by.
Vintage Made In Japan Salt and Pepper Shakers
The majority of US souvenir salt and pepper shakers were Made In Japan or Made in Occupied Japan and were usually stamped or marked accordingly. The term “Vintage” references items from the1920s -1980s and typically anything at least 50 years old can be considered Vintage. An Antique on the other hand should be at least 100 or more years old to be classified as an Antique.
Items stamped or marked “Made in Japan” were typically made prior to the First World War and after the Second World War as Japan was much like China and Taiwan are today; countries where items can be cheaply manufactured and mass produced. The term “Made in Occupied Japan” refers to the period in history right after the Second World War when the United States, Australia, British India, United Kingdom and New Zealand were involved in re-building Japan and were a main presence. In 1951 a peace treaty was signed that was enforced in the spring of 1952 when Japan became an independent state again. Items produced in Japan during this short time frame are stamped/marked “Made In Occupied Japan” and considered more desirable and valuable by many collectors. Many of the Vintage Salt and Pepper Shakers we deal with and sell are from these eras and are fun to collect as they have an appealing charm about them that comes across in the way they were molded and painted.
A couple photos for you of some vintage Black Americana1930s souvenir salt and peppershakers. These are souvenirs from New Orleans, Louisiana, Washington D.C., York P.A., Martin,Tenn.
If you are interested in collecting Souvenir Salt and Pepper Shakers you will find that they are a little more difficult to come by then non-souvenir shakers as many collectors are seeking these and a search on EBay for souvenir shakers only returned 64 results so, keep your eyes open when visiting yard sales, garage sales, seasonal bazaars, thrift shops, flea markets, antique malls, and online websites. We hope you display and enjoy your souvenir shakers!
