10 Vintage Salt And Pepper Shakers That Are Potentially Worth $500+ Today

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Our kitchens aren't just places where we cook. They're often home to old-school gadgets that still have plenty of life in them, whether they're handed down from generation to generation or bargains that you picked up at flea markets and yard sales. We admit we're suckers for an antique bit of kit. We would relish the chance to own one or more of these vintage cookbooks, and you can bet your bottom dollar if we spotted some Limoges dinnerware within our budget, we'd grab it. But they're not the only cooking-related collectibles that sell for a pretty penny. Some vintage salt and pepper shakers can be worth an astonishing amount of money.

We took a look online to see what kinds of salt and pepper shakers are out there, and specifically how much they might be worth. We found everything from hand-painted ceramics to minimalistic metal and elaborate silver sets, with some designer names thrown in for good measure. All come with a $500 or higher price tag in U.S. dollars. Of course, fair warning that these are asking prices, but they do certainly hint at what a good rare and vintage set of salt and pepper shakers could be worth. Who knows? If it's in good condition, maybe that old set grandma gave you (and which is gathering dust in the attic) might be more valuable than you think.

The Italian house may be best known for its fashions, but it also dabbles in other areas, including tableware. Back in the 1970s, it picked up on the trend for representing natural forms, creating these cute quail salt and pepper shakers. They're made in the glamorous Hollywood Regency style and cost roughly $855 on 1stDibs. Yes, that's a steep price, but we still think they'd look gorgeous sitting atop a huge, dark wood table if you managed to secure them.

Japan's ceramics industry boomed in the post-World War Two period, producing oodles of pieces that were sometimes labeled as originating from "Occupied Japan" and destined for the American market. Buyers loved the quality kitsch designs, and today many are highly prized — and priced — collectors' items. That includes this jolly farmer, whose two plump chickens are the salt and pepper shakers. This quirky set can be all yours for the princely sum of just over $1,640 on eBay.

This set hails all the way from 1960s Portugal and is a beautiful demonstration of the decorative majolica style of pottery. The hand-crafted and painted set comprises a vase for parsley, made to look like a bouquet of radishes, a wall-mountable salt container, and a pink onion pepper pot. As cute as everything is, it doesn't come cheap, however. The price tag on this trio is about $1,540 on 1stDibs.

When we think of Dutch salt and pepper shakers, cute ceramics of apple-cheeked kids in clogs come to mind. This sterling silver set from Dutch designer Gerrit Rietveld makes us see them in a whole new light. There's no fuss about these two pots, which sit snugly together in a cupboard or on a table. If you're a fan of Bauhaus-inspired gear, a shade over $500 will bag you this elegant pair via 1stDibs.

Ohio-based company Napco PY imported vast amounts of Japanese ceramics to satisfy its eager customers throughout the post-war years before shutting up shop in 1986. This rare set of 1950s bobble-headed skunks is practical, whimsical, and priced at a whopping $2,800 on eBay, so it's definitely worth checking if you have anything similar lurking in the attic.

This lil' guy is made of blackened brass, while the salt and pepper shakers he's carrying are clear glass. He's so adorable that we'd be tempted to pay the $750 asking price on 1stDibs to call him our own. He hails all the way from 1950s Austria and is the creation of designer Walter Bosse, who loved to make interesting decorative and useful home items in animal shapes.

This silver-plated set from 1989 looks like it's going to take off from the table, never mind dispense your seasoning. Massimo Iosa Ghini's sleek, geometric design was created for Design Gallery Milan in his Bolidismo style and includes both the salt and pepper shakers in an elegant stand. If you love it, be prepared to fork out around $500 to have it on your table, via 1stDibs.

We gasped when we saw this classy pair of pepper shakers from the iconic American brand Tiffany & Co., then figured that, for almost $2,000 via 1stDibs, one of them could double as a salt shaker. Crafted in sterling silver, they stand under four inches high and date to the early 20th century, but the octagonal design harks back to an 18th-century design.

If 1950s minimalism is your thing, then this vintage salt and pepper shaker set on Etsy could be right up your alley. Created by Carl Auböck II in his Austrian workshop, the unique shakers are made of ox horn and sit in a walnut holder. To our untrained eyes, they look like maracas, and we'd likely give them a shake or two if it wasn't for the $1,848 price tag.

No look at vintage salt and pepper shakers would be complete without a Victorian silver set, so we had to search for some like this charming pair on 1stDibs. Made in England around 1860, they have a hand-chased pierced design lined with a rich blue glass, giving the whole thing a dash of color. At a shade over $900, they may not be the biggest bargain, but we think they're delightful and have real historic value.