The Strutters — International Silver Turkey Shaker Pair

The Strutters came out of somebody's china cabinet every November for fifty years — you can tell by how good their condition is, because Thanksgiving pieces only get handled with care. They're silver-plated salt and pepper shakers from the International Silver Company of Meriden, Connecticut, the great New England silver house formed in 1898, and every feather is cast in real detail, tails fanned mid-strut.

Set them on the table in November and put them somewhere visible the rest of the year — they're too good to spend eleven months in a box.

Each about 4 inches tall.