Sell and Buy Vintage Antiques

Kitchen collectibles are a favorite among many people who regularly visit garage sales and estate sales.  There is a strong connection to old memories when you can actually pick up and handle something that reminds you of your past.  Vintage salt and pepper shakers are a great example of this type of collectible.

As collectibles go, these vintage and antique salt shakers are quite popular.  They are certainly a very convenient size for collectors who like to display their treasures.  They also lend themselves nicely to following particular themes.  If you are using them as a decorative display in your kitchen, finding several sets to match your decor is a piece of cake in most cases.

Other people go for a more eclectic mix of vintage salt and pepper shakers when they build their collection.  They may be more interested in purchasing items that come from some particular period of history or which commemorate something that is important to them.

Mammy salt shakers show up a lot on eBay and they are sometimes bid to amounts that are quite impressive by Black Americana collectors.  I see these a lot at garage sales and estate sales, but word must be out that they are collectible, because they usually seem to have a price tag that is noticeably higher than other shakers being sold.

Others still, may collect by a particular maker.  Some names that sold well during a recent check of eBay listings were Steuben, Lefton, Stieff, Tiffany and Cartier.  This is definitely not an exhaustive list though.  You also shouldn't assume that just because an old set of shakers carries one of these names that they are worth substantial money.  Much depends on the particular set you are looking at and its rarity.

If you are buying vintage salt and pepper shakers at a place like a garage, yard or estate sale, take a look at all of the shakers being sold.  If it seems like a nice collection, ask if the seller would consider giving you a price break on purchasing the entire collection.  You might be able to split the lot for resale on eBay, or sell the lot in its entirety.  Vintage salt and pepper shaker lots commonly sell on eBay and sometimes can bring nice rewards.

Before buying any antique or vintage shakers, always examine them closely.  These are one of those items that often get a quick repair during their lifetimes.  Sometimes they get pressed right back into service.  Look for hairline cracks that indicate repairs or small chips that may have been colored in by the original owners.  This isn't to suggest that they are trying to pull a fast one.  They may have just been trying to keep a favorite set of shakers from the trash heap.  If you are a regular at low priced selling events like garage sales, you can often walk away with a great instant collection of vintage salt and pepper shakers!

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