Figurines Salt And Pepper Shakers Appraisal

Vintage Boy and Girl Ceramic Salt and Pepper Shakers

This is a pair of vintage ceramic salt and pepper shakers, depicting a boy and a girl. They appear to be made from glazed ceramic or porcelain, with hand-painted details. The boy figure has blonde hair, an orange-red bow tie, a teal/blue jacket, and is holding a small yellow animal, possibly a chick or small dog. He is wearing brown pants and blue-grey shoes. The girl figure has blonde hair, a pink head covering, a black collar, and a cream-colored dress with ruffles at the bottom. She is holding a small basket with purple and green floral accents. Her shoes are brown. Both figures show typical stylistic elements of mid-20th-century ceramic collectibles, characterized by soft colors and a somewhat idealized, childlike appearance. Each shaker has visible holes at the top for dispensing and a single larger hole on the bottom, typical for filling. While the specific maker's mark is not visible, these types of shakers were commonly produced in Japan or the USA during the 1940s-1960s. The paint shows minor wear and some slight inconsistencies, suggesting hand-painting rather than mass-produced decals. There are no obvious chips or cracks, but some light dirt accumulation, especially in crevices, and minor scuffs consistent with age and use. The bottoms of the shakers are white and appear to be slightly wider for stability, and they show some slight discoloration, indicative of their age. The craftsmanship is decent for novelty kitchenware of its era, with good detail in the facial features and clothing, despite some minor paint bleed.