Pottery company well-known for these colorful cookie jars

Q: I am curious to know what you can tell me about this pair of cookie jars. I got them from my grandmother, and if I remember correctly, they were given to her by a pair of sisters who boarded with her, my mom and my uncle in Grand Island, Nebraska, during WWII. A friend tells me her family had the female and called it “Susie Cookie Jar.” I am trying to find four identical sets for my four children, but all I can find have different patterns. Can you help?

Thanks,

H.H., Chicago

A: Although the jars are just marked “USA,” they were made by the Shawnee Pottery Company of Zanesville, Ohio, which began operation in 1937 and went out of business in 1961. During the WWII years of 1941 to 1946, Shawnee was taken over by the United States Army Air Corps and used as a supply depot and parts manufacturing facility.

During their relatively brief time in business, Shawnee made everything from aquarium ornaments to salt and pepper shakers, pie birds, flowerpots, lamps, planters, pitchers, miscellaneous kitchenware, dinnerware and yes, cookie jars. The list could go on and on, and they made vast quantities of many items.

Shawnee is perhaps most famous for their “Corn King” and “Corn Queen” lines and for their cookie jars. “Smiley Pig” is well-known, as are “Winnie Pig,” “Muggsy” (an adorable pup wearing a toothache scarf around his head), “Puss n’ Boots,” “Sailor Boy” and “Drum Major.” Collectors especially look for the elaborately decorated “Lucky the Elephant” and “Cookie House.”

The pair in today’s question are “Dutch Boy” and “Dutch Girl,” which we have also seen referred to as “Happy Jack” and “Happy Jill.” Most of the character jars came in a variety of decorations and color schemes. Those with unusual coloration, various decals and gold trim can demand something of a premium. In the case of “Dutch Boy” and “Dutch Girl,” look for the examples marked “Great Northern.”

In this case, Jack’s stripped pants are a plus, but if decals representing patches or small florals had been added, that would have made the piece much more monetarily valuable. The tulip on Jill’s dress is nice, but a color to the skirt, some decals and gold trim would have made the piece more desirable.

That H.H. has a pair is nice and does help the dollar value a bit. We discovered similar examples are for sale on eBay and Etsy for prices as low as $20. Most, were in the

$50 to $80 range. Add the interest in a pair and we think the retail value would be in the range of

$150 to $200, if in perfect condition.

Helaine Fendelman and Joe Rosson have written a number of books on antiques. Do you have an item you’d like to know more about? Contact them at Joe Rosson, 2504 Seymour Ave., Knoxville, TN 37917, or email them at treasures@knology.net. If you’d like your question to be considered for their column, include a high-resolution photo of the subject, which must be in focus, with your inquiry.

COURTESY Shawnee Pottery Company’s “Dutch Boy” and “Dutch Girl” cookie jars have also been referred to as “Happy Jack” and “Happy Jill.”