Shawnee Tales
May  2014
by Lin Romberg
  Cannot believe this year is going by so fast!  As some of you know from the Facebook Shawnee site, the house next door to mine burned a week ago - it was a nightmare and endangered my house - woke up at five forty five in the morning to a fireman's voice outside my bedroom window. Multi alarm fire with both Scottsdale and Tempe City stations responding. Several collector friends asked if I decided which piece of pottery I would grab - honestly other than it crossing my mind I could lose the entire collection, I didn't even think about getting my purse or money, just made sure I had leashes ready for the dogs in case I needed to get them out. Really tragic, for the first hour we didn't know if the occupants were inside or not, thankfully they had spent the night at a friends house - at that hour everyone assumes people are at home. Five small dogs perished and the house is totally destroyed. I feel so blessed to have sustained very little damage overall. I know for certain I will NEVER be gone and have my dogs pet door closed blocking them inside.   (Remember - dogs don't have thumbs. Doug)
  On a lighter note some interesting finds this month. A friend gambled on a  jar on ebay - it was questionable as to authenticity because of a unique lid color - it is the bank mold but without the lid being a bank. It has air brushed lighter color on the bib - beautiful piece and authentic. The lid is the typical regular lid (not closed on the bottom with the three holes) but there is fine line where the bank slot would have been had it been made as a bank. Some pictures of the piece. Beautiful piece. We had covered a similar one without the rosy cheeks and ears a few years ago and were suspicious yet hands on confirms this piece recently purchased. Possibly an experimental test glaze or piece never implemented in the line.
  I had recently shared with this collector an experience I had about fifteen years ago - Mel and Jean Gibson from Michigan were taking the long way home from their winter in Texas and detoured to Arizona - we were out antiquing having been through the town square of Glendale when on the way home we were talking about bank jars - a chocolate Smiley bank jar had been in one of the shops. I commented I would have jumped on it had it not been the bank jar - Mel comments there was no bank slot in the lid. Well, Jean and I were passing it about the same time in the shop, it was on a low shelf - we both insisted it had the slot.  At the time Mel wasn't aware of the non bank molds!!!!  I made a U turn and back we went - I was so sure he was mistaken that Jean and I stayed in the truck and let him check - out he comes indicating we come inside - sure enough, it was the rare mold without a bank lid. He insisted I get it since he hadn't even known about it - well, a few years ago it went to Michigan for Jean's birthday! Times like this are what makes collecting such fun. Trust me, now I always check any bank jar on a shelf "just in case". I wonder if I have passed any over the years before.
  
  Another discussion was about taking notes if we see something in a shop or at a flea market, how important to take information or the seller's names and number. Often even we are interested because of the price or just not on our want list - someone else may be thrilled to get the item. Here is one that someone saw and later helped another collector contact the mall and purchase it - interesting jar as has two versions of the small pink flowers we describe as a small daisy's for lack of more precise name - the first pictures are of the recent find - the next pictures are jars in my collection - any of these small pink flowers are very difficult jars to find.

  I imagine quite a few of you saw the gold deer with decals sell this past month - almost  $1400 - a terrific piece. In my archives I have the picture of one with the milk can decal. No notation as to who sent it but would be extremely rare with any decal let alone the milk can decal, I long ago gave up hope of every putting together a set of the seven with them..........
An Inquiry about identification and authentication of the spaniel figurine.
Hi,   I could use your help in learning about the setter/spaniel shape. I have posted on the Facebook page and didn't find any real answers.
Here is what I know. 

Listed in the Mangus book on page 19 is a setter. There is no reference to glaze colors.

Listed on page 35 of FAPCO (Fredericksburg Art Pottery Company) book. Listed in blue and says,  "Setter dog; also comes in pink and white; 7"high x 6" long."

Color photo attachment of (supposed) Cameron Clay Products setters/spaniels. Black and white photo from a Sevilla ad from the late 1930's. It has been determined by archaeological proof that CCP made Sevilla. Most pieces in the ad have been found in known CCP glazes to solidify the attribution.

Do you know how Shawnee got credit for the shape? Company brochures, shreds found on site, or verbal attribution?

My focus is Cameron Clay Products. There are no sales catalogs or brochures to help us identify pieces that were made. Most identification has been word of mouth (employees, historical photos, and archaeological finds. I would rather tell someone that Shawnee, FAPCO, and CCP made something rather than mislead them and just say CCP made it. I would like to have some confidence as to how FAPCO and Shawnee got their claim.

A number of the NOT SHAWNEE pieces you list are listed in the FAPCO book. Is there any way to put a box next to the pic for someone to write in who something is by?

I appreciate your help, #######
  So many pieces  are similar from different companies, difficult at times to know for certain without catalog documentation.
( So many questions with no definitive answers. I think the clock has about run out for new revelations on who and why of the first half of the 20th century's Pottery production. The only thing for sure is -       I updated some not-Shawnee pages on the website with identifications as requested.  Doug)
  Someone else inquired about the Smiley pig bank that we've never been able to say for certain was produced by Shawnee - it was commissioned for a diabetic camp called Camp Sweeney in Ohio and remains uncertain as to who produced it.
  I've  communicated with employees of this organization a couple times. Same problem as above, there is no one left that knows.  Doug
  Does anyone have an additional information on this piece - it appears in the likeness of our Smiley but somewhat primitive looking, not as polished as our beloved Smiley!!!!!!  Just my opinion  :)
Until next month.

Lin                 Linromb@aol.com
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Doug's Corner
Not long ago I had aquestion about the current owner of the Shawnee Trademark.
Below is this guy in a Shawnee lineup.
  Shawnee collectors can thank Rhyme & Son, Inc for the flood of reproduction Smiley and Winnie cookie jars.  http://www.rhyneandson.com/
Looks like collectors NOT welcome!