Preliminary identification
Photo reference
1 uploaded photo
Overview
This is a classic Depression-era kitchen shaker made of opaque green 'Jadeite' glass, featuring a distinctive flat-sided, square-to-oval shape designed to fit easily in a cook's hand. It features a hand-applied black fired-on 'Salt' decal in an elegant, stylized art deco font and is topped with its original screw-on metal shaker lid.
Story
During the Great Depression, American glassmakers realized that bright, cheerful colors could lift the spirits of struggling homemakers. This green shaker was designed to be both highly functional and beautifully modern for its time.
Maker / Origin
The McKee Glass Company, established in 1853 in Pittsburgh and later moved to Jeannette, Pennsylvania, was a pioneer in pressed and colored glassware. In the early 1930s, they introduced 'Skokie Green' (their proprietary name for Jadeite), which quickly became a staple in American kitchens alongside competitors like Anchor Hocking's Fire-King.
Condition & Value
The glass body appears to be in excellent condition with no visible chips or cracks, and the black 'Salt' decal is remarkably crisp and complete. The metal lid shows some minor denting and oxidation consistent with age, which is very common for kitchen-used pieces. Excellent preservation of the lettering helps maintain its value.
Full Research
Sold comps, value drivers, and venue guidance pulled from recent auction results.
Build on this identification
Layer in sold comps, value drivers, and venue guidance.
Comparable demand stays strongest where maker, originality, and venue confidence line up. Broader examples still trade, but the range tightens quickly when provenance, condition, or selling lane fit is missing.
Best Venue
Specialty auction or a focused dealer with buyers already in this lane.
Signed example with light edge wear and original frame.
Comparable format with stronger provenance and cleaner surface.
Smaller related piece with visible craquelure and trimmed margins.
Period match with softer condition and weaker subject matter.
Close market lane comp with similar material and presentation.