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    Home » Everything Amish » Plain Culture

    Amish Folk Art: Amish Salt Shakers and Playing Cards

    Published: Dec 3, 2014 · Updated: Dec 3, 2014 by Kevin Williams | 2 Comments

    AMISH FOLK ART

    By Kevin Williams

    I once took a college class about American folk art.  It was probably one of my favorite college classes ever just because it delved so deeply into American anthropology using art as an entry-point.  So much of our rich American history can be studied through our doilies, salt shakers, flags, knick-knacks,  paintings and whatever other "garage sale decor" is out there.

    Amish salt and pepper

    Amish salt and pepper shakers, a great example of American folk art in the mid-20th century

    I found this cast iron salt shaker set on Etsy. They are a great example of "Amish folk art."  If I had $20 to spare right now I might well buy these: vintage cast iron salt and pepper shakers from the 1950s.  Quite neat.  I love cast iron, so the idea of a cast-iron Amish themed salt and pepper shaker set is awesome.  It's a little tacky for today's era, but in the 1950s non-politically correct world, it was just another form of artistic expression of our cultural quilt.  You can see the Etsy listing here.  During the 1950s, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania was just emerging as a real tourism hot spot and interest in the Amish was rising in the general population.  These little salt and pepper shakers look patterned after Amish in that area.

    Amish playing cards

    Amish playing cards, although the Amish don'rt usually play cards.

    I saw something on Twitter the other day that caught my interest.  This is a set of Amish playing cards.   Now, keep in mind, the Amish generally don't play cards.  It's sort of considered gambling even if there isn't money involved.   You just won't see a bunch of Amish men sitting around a poker table. They will play non card card games like Uno or the uber-popular Dutch Blitz, but not just playing cards usually.   For the life of me I don't know why these cards are listed so cheaply.  They do come in a wooden box with a mallard on top (not my favorite decor, maybe that is why it is so cheap), but the cards themselves look beautiful.  There's no history listed, but the uniqueness of the item is compelling.  To see the ebay listing for the cards, click here.

    Note:  I don't know any of these sellers, can't vouch for them, just showcasing the items for the Amish angle, so use your best judgment if you try to buy any of these.

     

     

    « Rosanna's Egg Nog Pie
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    About Kevin Williams

    Hi, my name is Kevin Williams and I am owner of Oasis Newsfeatures and editor of The Amish Cook newspaper column.

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Christine McDermott

      December 06, 2014 at 10:43 pm

      Mom was a salt and pepper shaker collector. She in fact had this set. Probably bought them at Dutch Haven restaurant on Route 30 in Lancaster in the 1950's or early 60's.. Unfortunately when we moved ( in 1967) they didn't come with us. We think the movers took the box since it was marked as salt and pepper shakers.

      Reply
      • Kevin

        December 07, 2014 at 9:16 am

        Christine, that is the first time anyone has ever talked literally about "movers and shakers":) A shame that they didn't make their way with you. Your explanation makes a lot of sense, Dutch Haven and the whole lancaster county area was awash in folk art during that era...

        Reply

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    Kevin Williams - The Amish Editor Amish Cook Column

    Hi There, I'm Kevin!

    Welcome to Amish365, where I share my knowledge of Amish cooking and culture! I’ve spent almost three decades exploring Amish settlements and kitchens from Maine to Montana and almost everywhere in between. I’ll occasionally throw in stories of my travels, journalism adventures (I’m a Pulitzer prize-nominated journalist), fascination with grocery stores and Kmarts, and much more!

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