Interlocking Hugging Bear Pepper Shaker

3D Model

This glazed ceramic pepper shaker was discovered during salvage excavations within an old and since buried dump ear Service Road at MSU. Most artifacts in the assemblage date to the 1940s - 1960s.

This pepper shaker originally would have been part of an interlocking set of hugging bear shakers. Designed by Ruth Van Tellingen, these shakers were the very first interlocking/hugging salt and pepper shakers, commonly known as “huggers”. These have since become an incredibly popular style of shakers.

Production of Van Tellingen interlocking shakers began in 1947. She filed a patent for the design in 1949 that was granted in 1951. The lack of a patent number or “Patent Pending” on the base suggests this set was made very early in production, sometime in 1947-1949.

For more information, check out Emily’s blog where she uses patents to trace the interesting life of Ruth Van Telligen.

Model made by Jack A. Biggs using the Artec Space Spider structured light scanner.