Novelty salt and pepper shakers are collectible in all shapes and themes, these monks are a charming old pair from Goebel.

Is there any novelty item more popular to collect than salt n’ peppers?

Salt and pepper shakers are found in just about every kitchen but in the home of a collector, they do more than season food — they provide spice to decor and are at the heart of an entertaining hobby.

Novelty shakers are found in all sorts of shapes and themes. Produced as advertising pieces or in shapes like birds, fish and animals, there are literally thousands of shakers found in this broad category.

Naturally there is a collectors’ club for novelty shakers where enthusiasts can learn and trade, attend conventions and share information. Located at saltandpepperclub.com, members primarily collect figural character shakers like people, animals, fruits and vegetables and objects.

Victorian glass shakers though are less common in the world of collecting and classify as antiques (at least 100 years old). These shakers first came about in the 1870s when salt became refined and moved from an open saltcellar with spoon to the new-fangled shaker with perforated top.

Invented by John Mason in 1858, these common shaker tops were only feasible after salt became processed and free flowing. Imagine the difference to everyday food that the simple salt shaker brought about.

Created in lovely Victorian art glass, these truly antique shakers are found in handpainted cranberry and ruby glass, opalescent colors and custard glass designs. All are desirable to collectors.

Antique shakers are generally bigger than the standards for today’s home. The Victorian glass example shown in today’s column stands over 5 inches tall and would take a prominent place on the table.

Large salt cellars predated this type of shaker and were also big — but these type of open dishes for salt were accompanied by smaller individual salt cellars, filled from the master salt. At a formal dinner, the host passed the salt cellar to each diner who would then take some for their own small salt cellar.

According to Kovels’ Price Guide, collectors are very interested in the novelty type of figural salt and pepper pairs made after World War I. One pair that I’ve included in today’s column was produced by the famous German company, Goebel, and is in the shape of charming little monks.

Huggers are yet another type of salt and pepper shakers that are so named because they appear to embrace each other. These sets link together in such a way to appear as one piece.

Salt and pepper shakers from the 20th century include lots of retro numbers made out of Bakelite and ceramic, plastic, celluloid and wood. Prices for these collectible shakers range from $10 to several hundred.

The genuine antique open salt cellars are much harder to find and are therefore priced higher. Some of the unique shapes that these larger open salts include are a bandmaster’s cap, chickens, a dog pulling a cart, swans and sleighs.

Even Tiffany’s made a ruffled edge blue art glass and a clear ruffled edge salt cellar that are signed and marked. These two are worth several hundreds of dollars if you can locate one.

Cut glass, porcelain, pressed glass, silverplate, sterling and enamel saltcellars were also made and are beautiful examples of this quaint dining accessory from yesterday.

Collecting salt and peppers brings many people joy and offers a perfect gift for someone interested in cooking, dining — or your favorite “mover and shaker.”

For comments or suggestions on local treasures to be featured in Antique of the Week, Maureen Zambito can be reached via email at zambitomaureen@hotmail.com or by writing in care of this newspaper.