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Past Times
The monthly newsletter from Ruby Lane Antiques, Collectibles,
Fine Art, and Jewelry
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Welcome to Past Times!

IN THIS ISSUE:
o Need A Smile? Collect 50's and 60's Figural Ceramics! by
Ruth Harris of Heads Up Vintage

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NEED A SMILE? COLLECT 50'S AND 60'S FIGURAL
CERAMICS! BY RUTH HARRIS OF HEADS UP VINTAGE

As a dealer specializing in ceramic figural collectibles of the
50's and 60's I have had several customers exclaim that they
love being in my booth because everything is smiling at them!
Indeed, the warm and fuzzy nostalgic feeling that the sight of
these whimsical wares can bring is downright addicting. From
beautiful ladies, santas and angels to zany anthropomorphic
creations--a simple sugar bowl, lipstick holder, planter or salt
and pepper shaker set virtually come alive!

The postwar era of the 50's finally found people with a little
extra money to decorate! Five and dime stores became full of a
myriad of Japanese imported ceramic wares and knick-knacks to
add charm to ones décor for pennies on the dollar. Mail order
gift catalogs were another primary avenue as well as other gift
and floral shops. I recently stumbled across a Foster &
Gallagher advertising insert from 1968 that featured "308
Christmas Stocking Stuffers to order by mail. Did you know you
could order several pieces of the Enesco blue kitchen prayer
lady series for only $1! These popular mothers-of-the-kitchen
are now valued at $25 and more for the items shown in the ad. I
also discovered the winking Holt Howard Santa ashtray, salt and
pepper and favor mugs all for $1 as well and which are valued at
a minimum of $20 in today's market.

Not alone, collectors of 50's and 60's figural ceramics have a
passion behind the items they collect. For one customer it was
the smiling blue kitty cookie jar called Miss Priss that she
remembers on her mom's counter beckoning her to have one more
cookie, and now she needs every piece that was ever made in this
popular Lefton kitchenware series! For another it was the
unparalleled condiment jars with pixie heads and spoons so
fragile that they were repaired too many times to count, and now
they are incessantly searching for perfect examples of pixieware
in any shape or form! Maybe it was the memory of Christmas lady
planters or Santas that adorned the tables and mantels during
the holiday season...or perhaps Grandma left you her 500 piece
salt and pepper collection and now you find yourself drawn to
any figure with holes in its head! Fifties and sixties figural
ceramic ware has certainly become a hot area of collecting as
baby boomer's look for the special items that remind them of
home. Young collectors are also drawn to the innocence and
gaiety that they represent.

What else makes this such a hot area of collecting? First, in
our current economic times we often have to turn to that which
is affordable and there are still many great deals to be found
for ten to twenty dollars. Of course some of the rare items that
were limited in production or extremely fragile will require a
deeper pocketbook...For example, you can purchase a set of prayer
lady toothpick holder for $20-$30 or you can set your sights on
the canister set for $2,000 if you are lucky enough to find
them! In addition, colorful smalls including novelty salt and
pepper shakers can also "spice up" a room and your dinner
conversation without taking up much space!

Many of the post WWII ceramic items carry nothing more than a
Made in Japan label or stamp on the bottom. However, many
companies did use numbering or label systems to help with
identification. Some of the better known companies of this time
are Lefton, Josef, Enesco, Holt Howard and Napco. There are
collecting books specific to each of these companies available
on the market today. Lefton is probably the giant of them all
having supplied a vast number of collectible items over the
longest period of time. They produced many whimsical kitchenware
series that my customers avidly search for as well as the lovely
lady planters and head vases. Josef Originals was originally a
California company in their early years and began importing
their products from Japan in the early 60's. They produced high
quality figures that are especially known for their trademark
black eyes. Enesco was formed in 1959 and is known for the
popular prayer ladies, Snappy Snail, Dutch Kids and lady head
vases. Holt Howard's innovative pixieware lines and condiment
jars are highly collectable today and their large Christmas
novelty line will keep collectors happy being in ample supply.
Napco is probably one of my favorite companies having a vast
line of planters, head vases, Christmas lines, birthday angels
and figural kitchen items including a variety of salt and pepper
shakers. There is an excellent Napco collector book that also
displays wares and gives information on 20 other Japan import
companies of the era including the labeling that they used. I
highly recommend this book for collectors who desire to learn a
bit more about the lesser known companies that also made many
figural novelties. You can find this book online simply by
doing a search.

We invite you to visit Ruth's shop, Heads Up Vintage . She will
be happy to answer any questions you might have as well as help
you find the nostalgic treasure you are searching for!

Resources:

-Napco (Schiffer Book for Collectors) by Kathleen Deel

-Price Guide to Holt-Howard Collectibles: And Related
Ceramicwares of the '50s & '60s by Walter Dworkin

-Vintage Christmas Ceramic Collectibles by Walter Dworkin

-Collectibles for the Kitchen, Bath & Beyond: A Pictorial Guide
by Ellen Bercovici, et al

-Enesco, Then and Now: An Unauthorized Collector's Guide
(Schiffer Book for Collectors)