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by Linda Romberg
July 2008
SHAWNEE TALES
This one is more for newer collectors than old, unless you shop in poorly lighted malls and flea markets. These Smileys show up regularly on Ebay.
Large Smiley shakers, bad guys on the left - good guys on the right. The bad guys scarf color is much redder than it appears in the picture.
The bad guys come complete with crazing, a nice vintage touch.
The bad guys have the typical smaller off-center hole, easy right ---- what about the small Smileys on the right? Small off-center holes, but not fake.
So what's the deal? My understanding is these were earlier production than the large centered hole small Smileys. This early shape is very similar to the Camp Sweeney bank. What does that have to do with these shakers? Nothing, I just thought I'd throw it in to see if anyone remembered this very Smiley like bank.
In response to the clover bud teapot handles - the general consensus is the
brown is the rarer of the two, the green seems to be more common. The green
is such a distinctive color in the clover bud line for the buttons/suspenders
that it may have been the original decor chosen for the handles as well.
Many of you may not have even noticed the differences. I had been a long time collector when someone called attention to the dropped ear (& short tailed) small muggsy shakers - if I had ever seen them, I was not aware of it as had to go look in my cabinet to see which ones I had. Then, of course, it took several years to find the cropped ear style mold!
Pottery Festival is coming up shortly - if any of you are attending we would
love to hear a report on the activities, prices seen and PAID - I have not heard of any cookie jar auctions as yet.
I recently had an email from friends who are avid cookie jar collectors -
recently while in Ohio they found an unusual Smiley pig cookie jar with an
entirely different mold. Before I got the pictures I was ready to say "No way"
as they described the jar with the bib being part of the base with just the neck of Smiley fitting in to the bottom. Years ago I had seen something like this in southern Calif with a USA marking but very unlike Shawnee's USA mark as well as the colors of the pottery and the paint were definitely not Shawnee -
well, this one sure looks like it could have been done by Shawnee, The USA mark is identical to the Shawnee jars in their collection. It may be experimental - even has a lot of the original cold paint on it. Wondering if any of you have seen any of these along your travels, unusual pieces such as this usually turn up around Ohio or the East. This jar was found with a clipping/note stating it was designed by Rudy Ganz but of course that could be someone who did research on Shawnee. No telling what things were experimented with at the factory, but the copyright information shows the mold we are all familiar with.
Last night a Shawnee friend emailed me a new listing on Ebay - I know all of us would like to think our pieces are appreciating in a soft market, but thought you might enjoy seeing this seller's idea of value -
Shawnee Pottery Set Winnie & Smiley
Starting bid $5,500
(sounds like they have the Supnick cookie jar book - Doug)
Doug's Corner
I might be the only one that has a problem with the Smiley pictured above, maybe nit-picking but - My first "thing" is where the USA is placed, all jars that I can recall have the mark in the center of the bottom. Please send me pictures of any of your jars that the mark isn't roughly centered. Second, on close and nit-picky examination the USA appears more Brush like than Shawnee. I had one these jars in hand a number of years ago and didn't feel it was Shawnee. There has been one or two on Ebay over the years.
Tough to bring out
