In 1941 seas were filled with freight and cargo ships carrying troops and battle supplies.   America no longer had the luxury or the resources to import goods such as sugar.  Shortages raged throughout the country, forcing Uncle Sam to begin rationing sugar in 1942.  Homemakers turned to a sugar substitute called saccharin, which had been discovered years before.  By 1950 saccharin use was so popular in our households that numerous inventive companies using imagination frosted with whimsy, designed special tableware to stash this treasure.  Saccharin and its dispensers became an essential table requirement for the modern post war hostess.

Saccharin is a synthetic, white, crystalline powder about 550 times sweeter than sugar cane.  Surprisingly, saccharin was developed almost twenty years prior to today's aspirin compound.

In 1879 one of the first five professors of Johns Hopkins University, Dr. Ira Remsen, working with a Russian born research fellow, Dr Constantin Fahlberg. was experimenting with a derivative of coal tar and discovered a powerful sweetener.    According to the records of the Smithsonian, the findings were  published by the American Chemical Journal  February of 1880 with Dr. Remsen listed as the lead author.  Four years later, after they were no longer working together, Dr Fahlberg patented the product calling it Saccharin derived from the Latin word saccharum, or sugar.  Dr. Fahlberg, of course, became wealthy and Dr. Remsen went on to become president of Johns Hopkins University.  Though developed in the previous century, the shortages of the war and saccharin's stability under heat caused a boom in its use for cooking and at the family table.  The consequence of this boom was the design and manufacturing of petite fashionable saccharin servers. 

Holt Howard, Florenza, Davar, Menschik-Goldman and Enesco were some of the foremost firms who designed and marketed saccharin dispensers.  These tiny containers were fashioned in a myriad of shapes and often adorned with jewels. The massive popularity inspired even Tiffany, Gorham and the English Company Homepride flour to cash in on the market.  The little treasure pots were so affordable and desirable that they became one of the most popular hostess gifts of the1950's.

Florenza, a jewelry company, began promoting the largest array of shapes and styles.  They constructed cherubs, peacocks, poodles, whales, pineapples, fish, turtles, ducks, purses, and eggs to name a few.  Some of the figures used clever ideas such as incorporating the spoon into the tail of a peacock and all of the containers were sold with tiny tongs nestled inside.  Most of the Florenza products were made of a heavy gold metal which even today retains its rich luster.  Because Florenza originally specialized in jewelry they often adorned their products with pearls, stones, and other faux jewels.  Today depending on the uniqueness of the design Florenza containers cost range from $9.00 to $60.00.

In ceramic companies, forms can be found shaped like birds, stacks of saucers with a cup on top, charming tots with full skirts, piglets, and pixies.  Holt Howard added saccharin to their famous Pixie Ware line in 1949. The pixies are easily identified by their flat heads, twinkling eyes, and mop bangs ending in a topknot. The hair color usually matches the vertical stripes on the base.

When collecting the Pixie Ware be sure to look at the maker as this style has been reproduced. According to Kovel's the original Holt Howard pixie saccharin is valued at $100.  Davar, another porcelain company, created two equally popular shapes.  One saccharin is in the form of a little pot with a bumblebee hovering above on a small spring.  The jar reads: "Saccharin is better for me".  The bee jar can sell for $30.00 to $70.00.  It was created in 1959 by Frankel-Breslow for Davar.  Davar also made pixies similar to Holt-Howard.  The stripes of the Davar Pixie bases are horizontal and they are painted with arms.  Menschik-Goldman designed an adorable little girl with golden curls who sits atop a full skirt.  The genuine M. G., Inc.  little girl is identified by her purple bow and matching purple dotted white skirt.  The underside of the head holds a spoon, which fits into the skirt.  This popular collectible can sell for $40.00 to $75.00. Depending on the area.

The saccharin dispenser craze even motivated Homepride, a British flour company, to include saccharin in its promotional line of  butlers.  In addition to assorted canisters and  salt and peppers, Spillers, Ltd also created a plastic saccharin dispenser in the shape of the trendy AFred© the butler for the Homepride Company.  Simply remove Fred's top hat and tucked underneath you will find a little pour spout.  Fred can sell for $29.00 to $60.00 depending on condition and area.

Whether you prefer classic elegance, ornate rich jewels,  or the charm of whimsical fairy-tale,  you will find your style in saccharin dispensers.  Because they were so popular from 1950 though 1978, these mini treasurers are still found in abundance, in beautiful condition,  and at affordable prices. As a fond memory of childhood,  their cost and size make them the perfect collectible for those with small purses and tiny spaces.