A woman has discovered her late grandmother’s salt and pepper shaker collection, which had amassed 1,150 pieces.
Sharon Tidwell, who died at the age of 80, began her collection in her mid-40s after inheriting a few shakers from her own mother.
The collection boasts an incredible variety from classic ceramic sets featuring intricate floral designs to shakers modeled after pop culture icons to holiday-themed sets.
One of the most valuable pieces from the collection is the vintage hanging strawberry salt and pepper set estimated to be worth between $150- $200.
Sharon’s granddaughter Rachel Whitten, 33, was stunned by the discovery.
She said: “We knew she loved them but until we counted, we didn’t realize how many there were.
“I was mind blown looking at how massive the collection is.
“She had a shaker for every occasion and interest whether it was Christmas, Halloween or even a quirky souvenir from her travels.
“But her favorite was the one that my dad hand-carved using the deer antler when he went for deer hunting.”
Sharon, who passed away last month, grew her collection over the years through flea markets, yard sales and gifts from loved ones who contributed pieces to her collection.
The collection was proudly displayed on the walls of her home in custom-made wooden cabinets and carefully arranged by theme and style.
Rachel, a teacher from Rover, Arkansas, USA, said: “It was like stepping into a museum.
“She had them lined up perfectly and she could tell you exactly who gave her each one and the memories tied to it.”
Dusting the shakers became a childhood chore for Rachel and her sister Sarah Cole, 34.
She said: “If you got in trouble, you’d be put to work cleaning them.
“We accidentally broke a set of teepees once and had to glue them back together!”
Rachel and Sarah have already taken home dozens of sets and they plan to donate or sell others to enthusiasts.
The collection even includes a set that moves and oinks when tipped over, which Rachel plans to gift to a woman whose similar shakers were lost in a fire.
Rachel said: “We’ve had people reach out through TikTok saying these remind them of loved ones.
“It feels good to pass that joy along.
“That’s what makes this special, seeing how something so simple can bring people so much happiness.”
