Best way to shake up your spice - and everything that's nice
Looking for the ultimate in tchotchkes? Beloved bric-a-brac can be found tucked in inconspicuous nooks
throughout the Cambridge Antique Market, an institution that epitomizes the Great Estate Sale. But
Booth 45, located on the second floor, takes kitsch to a whole new level. Here, you can delight in cabinet after
cabinet of bona fide Japanese salt and pepper shakers. The selection - from classic fruit (oranges for $10)
to cuddly animals (pink monkeys for $12) to utilitarian machines (washers and dryers for $40) - stands alone.
Some of it defies expectation: witness the fat lady and refrigerator ($29), or the couch potato and TV
($58). Yet these post-WWII-era icons are no joke, as a sign above the booth graciously notes: "Collectible,
Hand-Painted Japanese Salt-and-Pepper Shakers Are Better Than the Stock Market. They Only Go Up." That's
enough quality to satisfy even the pickiest on your gift list. Of course, you can shake up the gift-buying
routine anywhere in the Market, which boasts 150 dealers hawking furniture, jewelry, china, silver, toys,
vintage clothing, and much more. No matter what you want - kitsch or class - this emporium's got it
somewhere on its five jam-packed floors. Be patient. You'll discover it.
Cambridge Antique Market, 201 Monsignor O'Brien Highway, Cambridge, (617) 868-9566.
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