Fitz and Floyd Ceramic Vegetable Measuring Cup and Shakers Set

This charming Fitz and Floyd set belongs to the tradition of figurative ceramic objects created for the decorative kitchen. It includes a measuring cup and several salt and pepper shakers designed in the form of colorful vegetables, conceived as both functional pieces and small domestic sculptures.

The collection features recognizable vegetable forms, including eggplant, carrot, celery, cabbage, and other garden-inspired shapes. Their vivid colors, sculptural volumes, raised details, leaves, stems, folds, and textured surfaces create an expressive three-dimensional composition in which each object appears to have been modeled directly from the vegetable it represents.

The decoration has a distinctive majolica-style character, with richly modeled surfaces, pronounced relief, saturated colors, and applied details that emphasize the natural appearance of each vegetable. Rather than relying on flat decoration, the design uses volume and texture to create a playful, almost theatrical effect.

The measuring cup is particularly appealing because it transforms an everyday kitchen utensil into a figural object. Its vegetable-inspired form retains the practical function of a measuring vessel while giving the piece a strong decorative presence. The salt and pepper shakers continue the same visual language on a smaller scale, transforming objects used for seasoning the table into charming miniature sculptures.

Founded in 1960, Fitz and Floyd developed a highly recognizable identity within decorative ceramics, giftware, tableware, and collectible objects. The company became known for imaginative ceramic designs that combined craftsmanship, color, utility, and fantasy. Many of its pieces were modeled and decorated with the presence of hand-crafted ceramic work in mind.

This vegetable-themed group relates to Fitz and Floyd’s broader interest in gardens, cooking, food, and botanical forms. The brand’s decorative tableware included vegetable-inspired vessels, pitchers, canisters, salt and pepper shakers, and other objects in which the form of the food became the central design element.

The appeal of this set lies in the way it brings several stages of domestic life together. The measuring cup belongs to the preparation of food—measuring, mixing, and cooking—while the salt and pepper shakers belong to serving and seasoning. Together, the pieces create a complete visual language centered on the kitchen and the table.

This relationship between function and representation is one of the most attractive qualities of figurative ceramics. A vessel becomes more than a vessel: an eggplant can become a container, a cabbage can become a shaker, and a carrot can become a decorative table object. The collection presents vegetables not only as ingredients, but also as forms, colors, textures, and symbols of abundance.

Grouped together, the pieces have an almost theatrical presence, as if a freshly harvested selection from the garden had been brought directly into the kitchen. The combination of purple, green, orange, yellow, and red creates a lively composition, while the exaggerated proportions add humor and personality.

Although these pieces can be used in a kitchen or on a dining table, their strongest appeal is decorative and collectible. They would be equally attractive displayed in a country kitchen, a traditional dining room, a library, or on an open shelf where their sculptural forms can be appreciated from different angles. They also combine beautifully with antique ceramics, wooden utensils, baskets, textiles, and other objects associated with domestic life.

More than a simple group of kitchen accessories, this set presents a small scene of garden and kitchen life. The measuring cup represents preparation, the salt and pepper shakers accompany the serving of food, and the vegetable forms bring a narrative of abundance, nature, color, and everyday domestic ritual.

Dimensions

Eggplant Measuring Cup

W 6.5 in × D 3.3 in × H 5 in

Carrot Measuring Cup

W 5 in × D 2.5 in × H 4.3 in

Carrot Shaker

W 1.8 in × D 1.8 in × H 3.8 in

Leek Shaker

W 1.8 in × D 1.8 in × H 3.8 in

Eggplant Shaker

W 4 in × D 2 in × H 3.5 in

Details

• 1stDibs reference: LU10969251998962
• Period: Late 20th Century
• Date: 1980
• Origin: United States
• Materials: Ceramic
• Techniques: Glazed, Molded
• Style: Post-Modern
• Dimensions: H 5 × W 6.5 × D 3.3 IN
• Condition: GOOD