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Shawnee Tales

March 2016

by Lin Romberg

As mentioned in last month's newsletter there will be more inclusive coverage of Muggsy this month - some great photos of the hard to find jars, variations that any of us would love to add to our collection. Take note of the unusual shaker variations as well.

The green scarf jar is elusive but in my opinion the white rose decal is the rarest of the Muggsy jars - what a beauty - sadly, neither are in my collection! I've been told Louise Bauer confirmed the white rose decaled Muggsy to be a sample that was not implemented in the line because of the difficulty with the application of that particular decal. We never know for sure what is out there yet to be discovered.

Muggsy has been a long time favorite of many of us. It was a lot of years into collecting before I even was aware of the two different molds on the small shakers - the cropped folded ear versus the most common standing ears. I have yet to find the gold trimmed ones with the cropped ear but some day!!!! Many of you will recall the first pair of gold range shakers I saw at a local Depression Glass show - my Mom was with me and wanted to buy them for my kid brother for Christmas - we had yet to see the price - they had the wide black paint on them and when I asked the seller I think the price was $20 because "some idiot put black all over them so I don't want much for them" Ignorance is bliss, we snapped them up. My brother has been gone almost fifteen years and they are now a cherished addition to my collection. I have a set of Muggsy range shakers, plain with the Essex China labels which I love.

A few years ago I found a Muggsy cookie jar with decals I didn't have on any of mine but unfortunately it didn't get added to my collection, I once thought I needed every variation! I do very little buying any more.

Locally I found a cookie jar made into a lamp that had been a wedding gift for a couple back in the fifties - it has the gold Muggsy base with a Puss N Boots lid - first thing I noticed was the lid but when I turned it over to see the way the wiring came out of the base I saw the gsy and realized it was a married jar with a Muggsy bottom and Puss lid. The dealer said how fitting it was that the Shawnee lady was the one to purchase it. The decal is one found on the green scarf Muggsy. Years ago a reader sent in a picture of a similar one that was made into a lamp with plain mismatched parts.

Notes from some readers:

"Thank you for doing news letter and wanted to tell u that on many of the Mayberry shows there is a Fredericksburg chicken c/j in dinning room. Not sure how many have seen it??"

Another"

"Just looked at my newsletter, and read your piece about Shawnee sightings in the media. Ironically, last night I had one. We stopped off at my father in law's house and he had a HeeHaw rerun on. At one part of the show, when they were doing a "news" segment, I saw what looked like a Corn large salt shaker. I was the only one in the room that cared."

We love to hear from our readers so feel free to contact us any time with questions, contributions or photos.

Many of you know I am a decal freak with this pottery. I even buy pieces that are not Shawnee but have cross over decals we find on our pottery - would love to see pieces that readers have with the same decals - often found on LRRH pieces of the same era, also Chic pottery and Abingdon seem to have vases, lamps and other items. It's been terrific having readers contribute so many pictures these past few months. If anyone has any pieces with crossover decals on other lines, please send in some pictures for an upcoming newsletter article. A reader sent in some pictures of his collection.

Always interesting how many Shawnee collectors also have Little Red Riding Hood in their collections - would love to see others collections photos.

Hope every one has a great month.

Lin Linromb@aol.com