One reader asked me whether Jeannette produced shakers in their popular Iris and Herringbone pattern, specifically in the iridescent amber color. I didn’t know and went to my trusty reference books, especially Gene Florence’s Collectors Encyclopedia of Depression Glass.
According to Florence, there are no Iris shakers, Jeannette made neither the crystal nor the iridescent salt and pepper shakers. That got me curious. Just which patterns did Jeannette make shakers for?
Adam. Jeannette made Adam shakers in pink and green; neither are real common but you can find them. We had these several years ago and if I recall correctly they sold immediately despite the dented lids.
Cherry Blossom. Cherry Blossom shakers are RARE, and only two sets of pink shakers have ever been found. Jeannette made shakers in green too, but not Delphite opaque blue. You might find reproduction shakers in all sorts of colors, including pink, which were made in the 1970s and late 1980s.
Cube. Look for shakers in pink and green. The shakers have an interesting pyramidal shape with smaller cubes on top and larger on the bottom.
Doric. You might find shakers in pink or green. I have never seen them.
Doric and Pansy. The ultramarine shakers exist but are hard to find and costly. Florence notes that you might find shakers with poorly defined patterns and to avoid those if you can.
Floral or Poinsettia. Jeannette made this pretty pattern with big flowers in big sets of pink and green and some pieces in Delphite and Jadeite but apparently made the shakers in pink only.
Hex Optic. This is an early pattern with a heavy look to it, one of the earliest that Jeannette made into full line of dinnerware. Jeannette made shakers in pink and green during the depression. I don’t know whether they included shakers when they made iridescent Hex Optic in the 1950s.
Homespun. Homespun appears to be mostly for tumblers with a few plates, bowls and serving pieces. There are no shakers listed in either pink or crystal.
Iris & Herringbone. No shakers.
Sierra or Pinwheel. Shakers in pink and green have an unusual shape that incorporates the toothed edge around the lid.
Sunburst. Jeannette made this later in the depression in crystal, using shapes that are similar to Iris. No shakers.
Sunflower. You’ve surely seen the footed Sunflower cake plates although the other pieces are less common. No shakers in either pink or green.
Swirl or Petal Swirl. This is a very nice pattern that goes well with other Jeannette ware. You can usually find pieces and it’s moderately priced. Look for shakers in the luscious ultramarine teal color. Unlike the other Jeannette patterns these shakers are round shapes. As of this writing Replacements has them in stock for $55.99.
Windsor. Jeannette made Windsor, another heavy pressed pattern with geometrical shapes, in the later depression and into the 1940s. You can find shaker sets in crystal, pink and green; they are shaped like barrels.
Floragold is a later pattern that looks like depression glass. We had several shakers and the tough part is to find lids without cracks.
Jeannette used the same glass colors for years which means you can mix pieces from different patterns. If you want to add salt and pepper to your glass and there is no shaker in your pattern try adding one from a different Jeannette line.
Jeannette made a great deal of kitchenware during the depression and later; look for pieces in ultramarine and crystal and some pink and green. These aren’t part of a given, named pattern but you may find plenty of go-with pieces to enliven your kitchen.