A remarkable collection of 4,500 salt and pepper pots is set to go under the auctioneer’s hammer this weekend, attracting interest from collectors both in the UK and overseas.
The collection was the life’s passion of Christine Edwards of Burnley, Lancashire, who died last year aged 80, and who was well known to many viewers through her appearances on BBC programmes such as Antiques Road Trip and Flog It.
For Mrs Edwards, salt and pepper pots became far more than a simple curiosity. She had spent decades curating an astonishingly broad range of sets, from whimsical gnomes and woodland animals to Noah’s Ark and even Elvis Presley complete with guitar.
Her daughter, Amanda Edwards, explained that while she and her brother Ollie had chosen to keep some of the most sentimental items, including a favourite camel set, the remainder would be sold at Shaw’s Auction House in Blackburn. “We want them to go to homes where they will love them as much as my mum did,” she said.
It has been an emotional process for the family to prepare the pots for sale, not only because of the scale of the task but also because the collection represents such a deep part of their mother’s life.
Amanda described her mother as a “shopaholic” who “loved to be surrounded by pretty things”. She added that Christine had always been fascinated by antiques and miniature items, and although no one in the family quite knew why it was salt and pepper pots in particular that captured her imagination, she loved their miniature nature and the sheer variety of designs available.
Despite their purpose, her collection was never actually used at the dinner table. Amanda recalled how her mother insisted they should remain decorative, explaining: “She would get angry if anyone suggested putting salt in them,” and pointing out that the family had a separate set for everyday use.
The sheer size and diversity of the 4,500 salt and pepper pots make this an extraordinary auction. Shaw’s Auction House described the collection as “unique and extraordinary” and said it covered “just about any genre you could think of”.
Estimating its financial value is not straightforward, since it represents an uncharted territory of collectables. But looking at what individual sets can achieve on the market offers some clues as to the potential.
For instance, a pair of 1950s anthropomorphic pixie flower shakers has been listed online for around £2,000, while a similar era anthropomorphic bobblehead skunk set has fetched up to £2,200.
Another striking example is a 1993 Precious Moments set showing a boy and girl kissing beneath mistletoe, which has reached around £2,200, while a 1950s squirrel ballerina set has also been valued at about £2,000.
Some of the most whimsical pieces, such as anthropomorphic hippos in bright clothing, have been listed at around £4,000, showing how certain rare designs capture collectors’ imaginations.
The appeal is not limited to mid-century kitsch. High-end designer names are also represented among sought-after salt and pepper pots.
A 1980s Gucci grinder set in its original green box has been valued at nearly £400, while Alexander Girard’s La Fonda Del Sol restaurant shakers from the 1960s have appeared on the market for more than £600.
The range of possible values demonstrates why collectors in the United States, as well as here in the UK, are following the sale closely.
The auction will be handled by Shaw’s Auction House, a family-run business based in Blackburn that has become well known for its monthly antiques and collectables auctions, as well as for its valuation and probate services offered across Lancashire, Greater Manchester, Yorkshire and beyond.
The business is rooted in personal passion. Owner Callum Shaw first became interested in antiques when he inherited his grandfather’s Royal Doulton character jugs, and his knowledge grew as he bought and sold items online, at fairs and in auction houses.
Today, he and his family pride themselves on offering a welcoming and professional service for both sellers and buyers.
For the Edwards family, the sale represents both an ending and a continuation. While it is the closing of a chapter that spanned Christine’s lifetime, it also ensures that the thousands of salt and pepper pots she so carefully collected will go on to be appreciated by others.
The auction begins at 17:00 BST on Saturday, and with 4,500 lots to choose from, ranging from the sentimental to the rare and valuable, it promises to be a once-in-a-lifetime event for enthusiasts and collectors alike.
