Dear Helaine and Joe: I am enclosing a picture of a cookie jar, cream pitcher and salt and pepper shakers. I know them as "Puss 'n Boots." The shakers are missing their corks, but the pieces are in good condition otherwise. Can you tell me the value? — K.C., Milford, Ind.
Dear K.C.: Cookie jars are such a symbol of the "Leave it to Beaver" era that has now all but disappeared into oblivion. This was a time when apron-clad mothers (and grandmothers) made cookies from scratch and stored them away in cookie jars so that Sally and Johnny could have a sweet treat when they came home from school or after they had had their nutritious dinner.
In their heyday, cookie jars came in an amazing variety of shapes, and a few of the more interesting ones were made by the Shawnee Pottery Company of Zanesville, Ohio. This company went into business in 1937 in the old American Encaustic Tile Company facility. It made a variety of wares, and it is reported that many of the designs were actually originated by such companies as F.W. Woolworth, McCrory Stores and the S.S. Kresge Company. These mass-marketers told Shawnee what they wanted, Shawnee had the molds created and then made the product. When the manufacturing process was completed, Shawnee shipped the finished cookie jars to the retailer, which then sold them to the public. It was really a great arrangement.
In the cookie-jar line, Shawnee's most famous design was probably Smiley Pig, which was patented in 1942. Other designs include Winnie, who is often associated with Smiley Pig and wears a fetching little hat; Jack and Jill; Muggsy the toothache dog; Jumbo the elephant; Jack Tar the sailor; JoJo the Clown; and, of course, Puss 'n Boots.
One of the most valuable Shawnee cookie jars, however, is just called "Cottage." It is simply marked "USA 6" and is just 6-3/4 inches tall. It is shaped like a simple cottage, but these pieces are rather hard to find and have been valuable in the past (up to $1,500), but are now less pricy.
The patent for the Puss 'n Boots pieces was applied for in 1945, so the set belonging to K.C. is not technically an antique. Shawnee went out of business in 1961 (some sources say 1962), but collectors need to be aware that "commemorative" cookie jars in Shawnee shapes were made starting in 1992.
The Puss 'n Boots cookie jars came in a long tail and a short tail. We cannot tell in the photographs which model K.C. owns, but the long-tail version is just a tad more valuable than the short-tail variety.
Also more valuable are the Puss 'n Boots cookie jars that are vividly decorated in gold with decals, but the example in today's question is just a standard example. There was a time — not so very long ago — when this set was worth close to $400 for insurance purposes, but now the market has fallen dramatically, and current values are closer to $150 to $200.
Helaine Fendelman and Joe Rosson are the authors of "Price It Yourself" (HarperResource, $19.95). Contact them at Treasures in Your Attic, P.O. Box 18350, Knoxville, TN 37928. E-mail them at treasures@knology.net.