Winter-2022

This craving pushed the potteries to produce what we now know as the ceramic cookie jar. They soon became a whimsical “must have” in every kitchen across the country. They were produced in shapes of chefs, clowns, circus and farm animals, fruit, Disney and fairy tale characters. Ceramic proved the most versatile medium for decoration and shape. It was nonporous and kept the contents protected. And while they were not airtight, it didn’t matter much, as the cookies never lasted long enough to go stale. Collectors today seek out early McCoy, Brush Pottery, Lefton, Metlox, Red Wing, Purington and Brayton Laguna. McCoy is arguably one of the most desired and sought-after names in this exclusive group of potters. McCoy’s first figural cookie jar was Mammy with Cauliflower. Other Mammy jars featured large women with spacious dresses forming the base of the jars. All are highly desired by advanced collectors. A jar’s lid is an integral part of its value. A broken or missing lid can be a deal breaker. However, eBay has a special “spare tops and bottoms” cat- egory that is unbeknownst to many. A patient collector can, with time, find the exact match to a jar without a lid, restoring it to its full value. Some of the most valuable cookie jars include Hopalong Cassidy & Topper, made in 1994 valued at $1,500; the Brayton Laguna Accordion Woman, circa 1920 valued at $2,000; the Metlox Humpty Dumpty, circa 1970 valued at $900; the Lefton Pink Poodle Chef, circa 1950, valued at $1,500; McCoy’s Davy Crocket, circa 1957 valued at $1,200; and the McCoy Uncle Sam, circa 1973 is valued at $1,000. This is not chump change. What made the value of the cookie jar mar- ket spike? Collectors feel that Andy Warhol’s cookie jar collection of 175 pieces, which sold at Sotheby’s auction in 1987 for $247,800, took this humble kitchen collectible and elevated it to the level of “collection obses- sion.” It sparked an unexpected craze and values skyrocketed. Andy Warhol, the pop art king and artist of the downtown New York cool set, was obsessed with them. His passion drove him to scour flea markets and antique shops in NewYork, in search of cookie jar kitsch. He displayed them on Lucite shelves, backlit with elegant lighting, showcasing them like fine jewels. Very few collectibles warm the heart like the cookie jar. From their var- ied shapes and colors, one can judge these books by their covers. They have the promise of delivering a delicious treat and baking up a batch of nostalgia as well. And, if you are lucky, you may just come across one of the valuable ones listed above at a flea market or thrift shop, which can definitely add some twinkle to your holidays. Marjorie Snow is a published writer and photographer with a vast knowl- edge of antiques and their history. Snow was the owner of Terra Cotta in Las Vegas, an exclusive architectural vintage gallery, which has been featured in numerous West Coast magazines. (Top) A rare 1950’s cookie jar depicting a television set with cowboy on horse. (Center) An early McCoy black circus pony with a monkey. (Bottom) A 1970’s reclining lion by Doranne of California. C A R M E L M A G A Z I N E • W I N T E R 2 0 2 2 93