Feb 2019
by Lin Romberg
Shawnee Tales
The holidays are over and we are starting another new year! Hoping some of you had Shawnee surprises waiting under the tree. We skipped January's newsletter and will decide if we continue monthly or bi monthly depending on the responses and support we get from readers. Whether you realize it or not everyone has something to contribute!
This past year has flown by - Only a few sent in pictures of their finds for this past year, limited participation is leaning toward doing the newsletter every other month. The immediate feedback and reactions on Facebook tend to take precedence. Only a few readers tend to participate regularly..
Interesting question posed this month - about solid green planters and if others have found them over the years. I had never seen them before. It bears the question of could there be any other solid colors out there, so many variations that the average collector may not be aware of. By sharing this help educate all of us.
On the watering birds, no one has been able to definitely identify the maker but the general consensus is American Bisque is likely the manufacturer.
A friend sent in some pictures of her finds and an interesting question - she got a sugar/grease jar with an "original" strainer in it - wondering if they may have come with the strainer since the more common use was a grease jar. Seller told her her mom had it that way - has anyone else found one with a strainer??
It sure makes sense - many of us think of them as sugar bowls but during the time of production grease jars were more likely the popular use for these bowls.
Also a nice gold Bo Peep and bank cookie jar.
Another friend who has been on a roll finding some great pieces added a fantastic Smiley with hand painted flowers on the base as well as on the bib - wonderful jar. Made him promise NOT to post on Facebook and save for the newsletter - am sure it has been hard to restrain himself due to the excitement of finding this jar!!!
For me, an exciting addition last year were the panther footprint ashtrays a friend found for me after several years of looking - and I found a Smiley jar with pink poppies with the decals trimmed differently than my other. Also a pair of the pink poppy range shakers. My favorite decal and have had the Little Red Riding Hood cookie jar with the same decal from that era. LRRH is a side collection for me mostly because of the decals - as many of you know that is something I am drawn to with the Granny Anns, Bo Peeps and Chanticleers!
Until next month?? Depends on you as readers - send pictures, comments and questions!!!!!
Lin Linromb@aol.com
Doug's Corner
I am sure a lot of you have had these ashtrays in hand. Did you take them home? I think most Shawnee collectors feel they are a member of the family.
Below - The known Shawnee pieces are included for color comparison. Due the nature of photography they don't always appear exactly the same, so don't reject them because subtle differences in shade.
Over the years I gradually thought they might be Shawnee. Recently I contacted Pam Curran, author of the well researched book Shawnee Pottery, The Full Encyclopedia, for her thoughts.
"I could never catalog confirm those ashtrays, nor have them verified by any former employee of Shawnee. However, I've had enough of them in hand throughout the years that I feel they fit into a Shawnee collection. Up to the discretion of the buyer."
I recently received some pictures of Lobsterware that don't fit the "standard". I'll include them in the next Newsletter.
