May 2011
Shawnee Tales
by Linda Romberg
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This will be short as am dealing with a lot of family issues with my elderly parents. Was so nice to have some response to the last newsletter and the decoration variations and to learn of another plain apple Winnie....... where there is one, there are more!!!!!
Thanks to those of you who emailed and continue to participate with us!!!!!
"Hi Lin,
We enjoyed reading the April Newsletter, as we do every month's issue. We found your article on the Clover Bud/Apple/Raspberry/Plum Smiley cookie jars especially interesting, since we have also been confused with the variations at times. We have been collecting Shawnee since 1973 but have heard and read many different opinions regarding the variations. You stated in the last issue "... curious if some of the "raspberry" raised buds have green suspenders".
We are attaching four photos of one of our Clover Bud Smiley jars & what we have always thought was our "Plum" Smiley jar, both of which we have had for many years. Both have the raised buds and both came with the Clover Bud heads with the green suspenders. The differences seem to be that the "Plum" jar bottom has the same odd green color as the "Apple" jars but with very dark color to the raised buds,which is more like plum color. The actual color of the buds are darker than the photos make them appear due to the flash of the camera.
Thought this might beof interest to you, and that you might be able to confirm our opinion or offer an alternative explanation on the variations.
We also have several Clover Bud Winnie Jars and a raised "Raspberry" Winnie jar without gold trim. The heads on all appear to be alike. The only difference in the Winnie jars is that the "Raspberry" jar bottom (in comparison photo to your left) has the odd green color decoration of the known Apple jars. The Buds of both are the same color and appearance as you can see. Any opinion about these?
As always, Thank you for a great Newsletter, one we look forward to
getting each month"
Love the pics and the information - will mention this in the next newsletter - love that you also have a plain Winnie raspberry/clover bud (I refer to mine as a plain apple since it matches the Winnie without gold) - they rarely turn up - now I am hoping to find a plain Winnie blueberry.
Yes, Smiley with the plum reference is differentiated by the depth of the color. Who knows what Shawnee referred to these jars as - guess we will never know. I have always referred to the plum to describe the flat painted "apples" with darker paint and any of the raised buds as raspberries but
the unique green from the apples on Winnie as apple since it correlates with the gold apple Winnies, same jar, different jade green paint on the leaves - Your raised bud with the dark buds and apple trim is pretty unique, I don't think I have seen one this dark on raised buds. You've had me walking
around the house checking mine for more details, I wonder if these decorators had any clue there would be so many of us obsessing over the slight variations - back in those lean times people only BOUGHT ONE COOKIE JAR - who would guess then crazy collectors like us would want EVERY VARIATION.
I think with Smiley's the green suspenders were meant to be on clover bud jars however often I think the fit of the lid gave more importance than the suspender color - we all know lids are NOT interchangeable because of the firing of the pottery, the necks sometimes rock, especially on the Winnies - you can take six or seven and play musical lids and the only one that fits really right is the one it came with.
Thanks for sharing! Really appreciate the newsletter support.
Another email about a green bib chrysanthemum Smiley at an auction - beautiful jar
"Hi Lin,
We got him! He is really a neat jar. The greens match so good that I believe they came together. I'm going with if they made gold pieces - there must be a plain piece, too. Had a good day waiting for him to get auctioned off. (Of course, he was almost at the end.)"
Did you notice we had two corn casseroles listed on Ebay within two - weeks - one went over $400 while the other with some minor blems over $200. Great piece for the serious corn collectors.
Have a great month of May and Memorial Day - Let's remember to honor all those who have and continue to serve to protect us.
Doug's Corner
