|
 |
|
|
Cookie Jar History
It its generally believed that the cookie jar originated in the latter part of the 18th century in England where they were known as biscuit jars. Our English cousins used the term 'biscuit' for a small tea cake or scone, which in the U.S. translates as 'cookie'. Once baked theses 'biscuits' had to be stored in a place that protected them and kept them fresh. The biscuit jar eventually migrated across the Atlantic, and by the turn of the twentieth century they could be found on the counters of stores and Bakeries across America, usually filled with fresh baked 'cookies'. Due to the lack of funds, brought on by the great depression, our grandmothers where forced to abandon their daily trip to the bakers, and opt instead for more "home baked" goodies. This increase in home baking of course brought on a need for a more suitable cookie storage container than the make-do cardboard oatmeal box or empty coffee tin. It wouldn't take long for U.S. industry to recognize and fill this need. Late In 1929 the the Brush Pottery Company of Zanesville, Ohio introduced what is commonly believed to be first ceramic cookie jar. The jar - Kolorkraft #344 - was green with the word "Cookies" embossed on the front. With the success of this jar other ceramic potteries quickly introduced cookie jars of their own. Early cookie jars where usually very simple cylindrical or bean pot shapes, with little or no decorations, and even less imagination. However the marketing departments at these potteries soon found out that a container which was both attractive and enhanced a kitchen's decor sold much better at the retail level. Soon the designs became more innovative with figures of people, fruits, vegetables, animals, and cartoon characters. This design explosion eventually ushered in the 'golden age' of American cookie jars. During the years from 1940 until 1970, cookie jar production and sales climbed to the roof. Leading the way was McCoy Potteries of Zanesville, Ohio and American Bisque of Williamstown West Virginia, the two giants of the industry. Their output of cookie jars, in both number of designs and volume, accounts for the largest portion of old jars sitting on the kitchen counters of urban and rural America today. Other well respected cookie jar manufacturers of that era include Red Wing, Regal China, Brush, California Originals, Metlox, Hall, Abingdon, Treasure Craft, Doranne of California, Hull, Robinson-Ransbottom, Twin Winton and Shawnee Pottery. It was this great output of designs that has spurred today's vintage cookie jar collecting hobby. Many of the jars during this era only had one or two production runs, thereby assuring their scarcity and the subsequent high prices paid by collectors to own one. Meanwhile, other jars sold in the hundred of thousands, which of course, today translates as availability and affordability.
|
Contributor's Note
This intel was originally researched and written for my Cookie Jar Collecting web site. It has been slightly rewritten and adapted for posting here. Enjoy.
|
|
|
 |
|
PLEASE VISIT THE CONTRIBUTOR'S WEBSITE
No reactions yet.
Please login or sign up to rate this intel.
Please login or sign up to add a comment.
The copyright for this content entitled "Cookie Jar History" has been specified by the contributor as:
All Rights Reserved
This content may not be copied, distributed or adapted by anyone under any circumstances.
|
|
May, 2012
2008
January, February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November, December
2009
January, February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November, December
2010
January, February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November, December
2011
January, February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November, December
2012
January, February, March, April, May
|
|
Not a member yet?
Qondio is a powerful network for making it online. If you have a website to
promote, we can help.
Sign up and get in on the action.
|
|
Welcome to Qondio! Discover the awesome power this network can deliver by going to our About page. Or you could skip straight to the Sign Up form.
|
|
