Dear Helaine and Joe: I was hoping you could tell me about a tea set that was given to me by a friend who said his mother had had it for 40 years. I have drawn the marks and am curious about its value and origins. — J.F., Weedville, Pa.
Dear J.F.: Items of this vintage are not really our forte, and the drawing of the mark found on these pieces was of absolutely no help. We feared that we would not be able to answer this question until we just happened to check one of the cookie-jar books and discovered that this set is in the famous "Bluebirds" pattern associated with the Lefton China Co. of Chicago.
George Zolton Lefton came to the United States from Hungary in 1939 after working there as a designer and manufacturer of sportswear. As a hobby he collected porcelain, and in 1940 (some say 1941) he established the Lefton China Co. to import porcelain giftware into the United States and then distribute it to retailers.
After World War II, most of the pieces imported by Lefton were made in Japan, but it should be understood that Lefton also distributed metal and wooden items that sometimes were made in the United States. Although this business is just a little over 60 years old, there is a great deal of collector interest in these products, especially the earlier objects and the lines that have been discontinued.
Among the more desired Lefton items are such things as praying-hands vases, swan-shaped candy dishes and "Miss Priss" and "Little Adorables" items, as well as figures of parakeets, angels, the holy family and Napoleon. Useful figural objects shaped like bluebirds are also very popular with collectors, and the examples belonging to J.F. represent a good cross-section of what is available in this cheerful and charming line.
J.F. has a teapot, a creamer, a sugar bowl, a cookie jar and a set of large salt and pepper shakers. In addition to these items, wall pockets, planters, a smaller-size pair of salt and pepper shakers with rhinestone eyes and a really cute butter dish can be found on occasion.
This set is probably as old as J.F. thinks it is, which means it was made in Japan in the late 1950s or early 1960s. The vast majority of all pieces imported by Lefton China are not rare by any definition of that word, and those of us who evaluate estates know that it would be very unusual not to find at least one or two pieces of Lefton in most homes we visit.
Prices, however, can be surprisingly high, and interest is strong. For insurance replacement purposes, the bluebird pieces belonging to J. F. should be valued at between $300 and $400 for the set, if they are all in perfect condition.
Helaine Fendelman and Joe Rosson are the authors of Treasures in Your Attic (HarperCollins, $18). Questions can by mailed to them at P.O. Box 12208, Knoxville, TN 37912-0208.