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by  Linda Romberg
Apr  2008
SHAWNEE TALES
  We've had more emails from collectors who have discovered our web site -
many have been scammed by one of the many reproductions pieces that abound on the auctions. At least we are putting the word out and people are learning to beware.

  "I recently discovered the adorable Shawnee Pottery Cookie Jars and
Pitchers. I blame my husband for my overspending. He asked me to look up a vase his mother had that was Shawnee Pottery. I went to Ebay and found the vases all right but I found the Puss and Boots creamer. It was adorable, well $800.00 later (in 2 weeks) and I have gotten quite a collection. I bought several pieces and I am no expert. I read the descriptions and most said Vintage marked
Shawnee collectors you know well It was to my surprise I found a Lucky Elephant with Gold and was so excited. It was on a buy it now. So I did. I latter
Googled Shawnee Pottery and came across your web site. I almost died when I read your section on "Not  real Shawnee" I had no idea that people would be so
dishonest as to list these and not say wether they were repros or not. They say
"found at an estate sale no  history" they also want to ad in fine print all sales are final. Although I do think I have bought several "most" authentic pieces I do think I was had on a  couple. After I read your ad I even emailed one of the suspicious ones and they also said no history found at an estate sale. The 2 I think are not real and I hope I am wrong is a Smiley with Chrysanthemums on his tummy and the Elephant.  The Elephant came from Kentucky hence your warning I wish I would have read sooner. I haven't received the pieces yet but the Smiley advertised it was marked Shawnee on the bottom. The elephant in the pictures shows the Shawnee marking on the bottom. Do you have any suggestions of how I can be more  cautious? I really love these items and I want to get more but I don't want to get taken any more than I already have. Thank you in advance for any help you might can send my way"

Below is an elephant like she purchased listed as a  genuine Shawnee Lucky
  Another question we see from time to time is about a vintage Cinderella jar
that has never been authenticated as to the manufacturer but is often thought
to be Shawnee, one of these days we will find  one with a label on it......
Doug forwarded me this email.

Hello  Doug,

I am a great fan of your newsletter and have written to you once before
about a Shawnee piece and received great advice.  I am hoping that you can help me to identify a piece I found at an antique mall. It is a cookie jar with
the name Cinderella written in gold on the  front, the cookie jar looks like a
woman holding a basket with a cape and a hat, she has gold trim and applied
decals on the front.  Also, she had a sticker that looked like the same stickers applied to decorated Shawnee pieces, the  painter's palette.  I have seen this piece listed as a Metlox piece on eBay  (item 320219928385) , but I was
wondering if it is really a Shawnee piece?   Or did the companies use this
sticker interchangeably?  The lettering, decoration and decals looked so much like a Shawnee piece, I just  wasn't sure.  Any advice that you can give would be 
appreciated.  Hoping to hear from you soon! 
My response on this jar.

  "This jar has never been confirmed as either Shawnee or Metlox - I tend to lean toward early Metlox rather than Shawnee but nothing definite has ever been
determined - definitely a vintage piece from the 40's,50's or 60's - I think the
palette and decals are  typical of the era not restricted to one company as I have
Chic pieces with "Shawnee" decals as well as some Abingdon vases with the
same decals  - I collect the go withs.  I have never seen actual decals on this 
Cinderella that have ever been on Shawnee pieces but similar to the era.  
Little Red Riding Hood by Hull share some of the same decals, poppies, floral 
sprays - sometimes trimmed from a larger decal cluster. 

  I  have even wondered if it might not be Hull - same vintage time period but
would  think it could be documented if it were Hull, coloring of the pottery and other  features lean toward the Hull possibility.  Louise Bauer, early Shawnee and Hull designer (LRRH, Regal Diaper Pin pig. Disney artist) might have been able to provide some information years back, I think she has declined so likely not able to anymore.  To me the pottery as well as the design is so similar  to LRRH but just a instinct feeling.  Roerigs, Schneider and Supnicks all  tried to determine who produced this with no luck."
  Rhonda has been wonderful sending pictures of pieces she and her husband
have found - an unusual set of owl shakers - possibly experimental - has anyone
else seen any decorated like these????

Hi Lin,

The pair on the  right, we picked up in an Antique Mall at different times.
When found the second  one, they told us 2 dealers had purchased them at the
same auction in 2  different box lots. Haven't seen anything else like them -
maybe their experimental pieces?


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Rhonda also sent pictures of her latest find - a beautiful gold Clover Bud Winnie

I've seem one set of repro owls, but they weren't even close. I tend to believe glaze test on these.                                                                                Doug
  Something I recently discovered on Ebay - this may or may not be a new
feature but there is a section "Wanted to Buy Now" - I listed a wanted to buy, a
Smiley with butterfly on it's head or one with hair - one of the nice features is
periodically Ebay sends "similar items listed" notices, letting them do the search for you.  It appealed to me because of the fact I have not been online much since my brother's murder. It might be something worth looking in to - Ebay, of course, is very cautious and does not transmit email addresses to prevent "outside of Ebay transactions"  You know it  takes all kinds as some don't realize the item is not for sale, guess they don't read the listing - here is a copy of an inquiry I got - actually more of an accusation - as if I were hiding who I am - have a read - I personally think they made an A-- of themselves with their cheap shot

  "You Do The shawneepottery Web Page And You Dont Know If Its Hair Or A
Butterfly Ya What  Ever I Have Emailed This To Several People What A joke! Your
Feedback Tells How Anonymous You Are 909 And a member Since May Nov 6 97 HELLO !!!!!!"

  It  isn't me trying to be anonymous - Ebay sets it up that way, I have been
looking  for a butterfly or red head for a longtime collector friend after
another collector pulled a fast one to keep one from her.  99% of collectors are 
wonderful people who don't play games and are willing to help others build
their collections - a few spoil it for others.  My response to this was GET A 
LIFE - it is just pottery.  As much as we all love it, there needs to be some
perspective - this hobby should bring us together to help one another and 
build good memories.

  In closing, I want to thank so many of you who have been so supportive in
the loss of my brother Jim in December - any loss is tragic but unless you have
had a loved one murdered, no one has any idea how it  magnifies/compounds the
grieving process.  On a lighter note Jim always  teased me about my Pigurine
collection!

Until next month.........   keep the emails coming and pictures too.
Lin                                                                              Linromb@aol.com
Doug's Corner
  Last week I had led myself to beleive I'd stumbled onto the the answer to the "wide footed" Muggsy cookie jar mystery. I found a picture of a Terrace Ceramics' Muggsy, it has "wide feet". That led me to believe the "wide foot" was a mold introduced late in Shawnee's Muggsy production.
BUT, here in lies a problem, a Terrace Ceramics Muggsy from the "not wide foot" mold.
Questions without definitive answers, enough to drive you nuts!
From the emails I've been getting, it's time for a refresher -
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more Winnies
(Reminder - If you are in doubt about a piece, just email Lin or me .  Doug)
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