How Much is Your Shawnee Pottery Cookie Jar Worth?

The Shawnee Pottery Company, named for an American Indian tribe, was located in Zanesville, Ohio. Incorporated in 1936, the first pieces of pottery were produced in 1937. Production continued until 1961. In 1942, the first five orginal figure cookie jars were produced. Smiley Pig being the most popular.

Smiley Pig

His average height is 11-1/4 inches. He's white, with cold painted (which is paint applied over the glaze) red or blue neckerchief, brown hooves and eyelashes. He also has pink ears, nose and tongue. As with all Shawnee Pottery, the cookie jars come in many variations of the orginal. Painted decals with gold trim bring are worth more. A Smiley Pig cookie jar with painted decals and gold trim can fetch up to $400.00.

Lucky Elephant

This cookie jar actually started out as a pink ice server. The cookie jar is 11-3/4 inches tall. He is white, and has a bent trunk that forms a handle for lifting the lid. His black eyes as well as his feet, pink ears and mouth are all cold painted. Lucky Elephant comes with a red or blue bow tie. A Lucky Elephant cookie jar with glod trim, flower decals, and hand painted black bug on right tusk is a treasure for collectors. It's worth is up to $400.00.

Sailor Boy

A little boy dressed up in a sailor suit, hiding a cookie behind his back, makes this cookie jar an adorable addition to your Shawnee Pottery collection. This little guy is white, with cold painted black eyes, necktie and shoes, red lips, and blue stars on his hat and collar. The Sailor Boy also comes with white, blond and black hair. A solid gold Sailor Boy is very rare. This little guy can be worth $500.00 or more.

Jack and Jill

The two cookie jars with many names. Cold painted orginal jars are Jack and Jill. The later underglazed decorated jars, with a tulip on the girl and stripes on the boy is Dutch Boy and Dutch Girl. Gold trim jars are Happy and Cooky. Average height for Jack is 11-1/4 inches. Jill is 11- 1/2 inches. Some pairs have matching bottoms. These cookie jars as a set can fetch up to $300.00.

Puss n' Boots, and Muggsy the Dog, are also popular cookie jars is the Shawnee Pottery line. Most cookie jars have creamers, and salt and pepper shakers that match. These as a set can increase the value. As with any collectible, condition and demand determine value. While writing this article, I checked on ebay to find a Smiley Pig Cookie jar in excellent condition already at $182.00 with an hour and fifty-three minutes left.