The first cookie jars made of glass with metal lids appeared in Britain in the late 18th century. One American company from Ohio created the first stoneware jars in 1930, and you can recognize these cylindrical pieces after the painted flowers and leaves. The golden period for ceramic cookie jars was from 1940 to 1970.
Many people collect cheerful vintage rooster cookie jars nowadays. They are available on the current market, but choosing only one among numerous beautiful pieces can be challenging. There are two primary options, pieces with printed roosters and those in the shape of this proud bird.
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Vintage Rooster Cookie Jar History
Cookie jars (biscuit jars, biscuit barrels) originate in Britain, and their production began in the late 18th century. Initially, early cookie jars were typically created of glass and were placed in grocery stores.
In 1929, the first glass cookie jars with metal, screw-on lids were imported into the US, but stoneware cookie jars appeared soon after that. You can recognize the oldest, cylinder-shaped models thanks to typical floral and leaf decoration.
Finally, the Brush Pottery company from Ohio created ceramic cookie jars. The first models were green with the inscription Cookies on the front side and the BRUSH U.S.A. mark on the bottom.
The production period
During the Great Depression in the 1930s, when cookie jar manufacturing started, numerous companies created these items in different shapes. Some added colorful decals to beautify their products.
However, the peak of creativity was from 1940 to 1970, with a few prominent manufacturers producing unique pieces. The most desirable and expensive collectibles shaped like people’s faces, animals, fruits, and vegetables came from this period.
Nowadays, you can find roosters cookie jars in hundreds of different styles. However, collectors typically look for those created from the late 1940s to the 1960s.
The most prominent companies
Many companies have manufactured these lovely cookie jars over the years. However, only several were famous for the high-quality pieces most collectors are looking for.
The McCoy Pottery produced cookie jars from 1939 to 1987. Even though the company was famous for so-called Mammy and fruit and vegetable-shaped jars, they also created the first rooster cookie jar in 1956. Their models were typically among the most expensive and highly collectible pieces.
The Farco company manufactured cookie jars from 1939 to 1949, and the most popular rooster-themed cookie jar was the orange hen.
Other companies that have produced cookie jars most Americans like collecting are:
- Abingdon Pottery is well-known for the Mother Goose cookie jar series
- American Bisque is famous for cartoon character jars marked with the U.S.A. sign on the bottom
- Metlax produced the beloved Little Red Riding Hood cookie jar series
- Brush Pottery
- Hull
- Shawnee Pottery
- Red Wing
Nowadays, the most popular are clear glass cookie jars with rooster etchings and embossed cookie jars with the rooster on their sides or lids.
Collectible Rooster Cookie Jars
Vintage rooster cookie jars
A bit worn-out vintage and antique rooster cookie jars are beautiful art pieces. Remember that over 100 years old jars are considered antique, while those produced later are vintage.
Rooster shaped vintage cookie jars
Rooster-shaped cookie jars are fantastic pieces coming in various sizes, shapes, and colors. Many collectors prefer such jars since they look spectacular in the kitchen.
New rooster cookie jars
Interestingly, many collectors don’t mind collecting rooster cookie jar reproductions. In fact, those who avoid old items can get the desirable feeling and look of an antique by purchasing never used canister-looking cookie jars with a painted rooster.
Vintage Rooster Cookie Jar Value
Like every vintage item, the cookie jar value will depend on a few crucial things. For instance, the current state of the economy will significantly affect prices.
You should have paid $4,000 for a vintage McCoy Red Squirrel cookie jar a few years ago. However, the most expensive pieces cost only $1,500 to $2,000 at the current market. On the other hand, most available jars are damaged, so you can expect to buy them for less than $100.
Vintage rooster cookie jar |
|
| Jar | Price |
| Beige rooster cookie jar | $18 |
| Rooster jar with glass lid | $25 |
| Gift rooster cookie jar | $25 |
| Shabby Chic pink barn rooster cookie jar | $25 |
| Brown hen, everyday rooster cookie jar | $28 |
| Giftcraft Japan rooster cookie jar | $28.50 |
| Hand-painted, 8 inches (20 cm) tall rooster cookie jar | $29.25 |
| Ceramic chicken with a baby cookie jar | $30 |
| International certified rooster cookie jar | $30 |
| French country farmhouse nesting hen cookie jar | $35 |
| White rooster cookie jar with yellow, red, and blue coloration | $38 |
| Westmoreland nesting hen cookie jar | $38 |
| Boston warehouse rooster cookie jar | $40 |
| Vintage rooster cookie container | $42 |
| 1960s Spongeware red rooster | $49 |
| Phyllis Driscoll monsieur Poulet rooster cookie jar | $50 |
| Susan Winget rooster cookie jars with sunflowers | $50 |
| Hen on a nest cookie jar | $55 |
| Hand-painted Atlantic ceramic rooster cookie jar | $60 |
| Atlantic molds company’s rooster cookie jar | $68 |
| 1970s Atlantic mold company gold-yellow speckled rooster cookie jar | $70 |
| Large rooster cookie jar | $75 |
| Elegant rooster cookie jar | $75 |
| Black and white rooster cookie jar | $75 |
| Chicken in a basket ceramic rooster cookie jar | $75 |
| Ceramic rooster cookie jar | $89 |
| Ceramic farm rooster cookie jar | $120 |
| Hand-painted French country rooster cookie jar | $129 |
Before determining a particular rooster cookie jar value, you should consider a few things.
Authenticity
The rule of thumb is that only authentic vintage cookie jars are valuable. Unfortunately, you can find numerous fakes on the market, so it is crucial to be careful when buying them.
The best way to determine most vintage cookie jars’ age is to check the markings typically placed at the base. Those identifying marks depend on the brand and have a distinctive look. Any size, color, and appearance deviation mean the piece you see is fake.
Theme
Keep in mind that you can find hundreds of different cookie jars, so you should concentrate on particular themes when deciding to start the collection. The most popular include:
- Animal cookie jars, including popular rooster cookie jars
- Characters like a clown or Mammy
- Cartoon jars show favorite kids’ characters, including Disney, Garfield, Betty Boop, and Snoopy
- Storybook (nursery rhyme) cookie jars come with characters such as Little Red Riding Hood, Cinderella, or Mother Goose
- Funny animals, such as pink poodle or rabbit in a hat
- House cookie jars shaped like houses of various styles
- Lighthouse cookie jars with a nautical theme
- Fruit and veggie cookie jars created in specific shapes
- Cultural icons contain Love Lucy, Elvis, the Beatles, Cookie Monster, or Superman images
- Holiday cookie jars are dedicated to a particular day in the year and decorated with Easter Bunny, Christmas trees, snowman, Santa, or Jack o’ Lantern
- Advertising cookie jars with brand marks or photos, like Coca-Cola, John Deere, Kellogg’s, Nabisco, or Pillsbury
Condition
Most collectors look for cookie jars in pristine condition, no matter how old they are. Therefore, a cookie jar with an excellent grade is typically pricey.
Only rare, old, and unique pieces can be worth a lot despite their condition, so you can also find jars marked as very good and good. Even with scratches, chipped edges, or paint loss, such pieces will be valuable. Still, hairline cracks will reduce the price of even scarce items in great demand.
Rarity
The primary economic law of supply is that low supply and high demand mean a higher price. In other words, a rare cookie jar that is hard to find will be more expensive. The rarest vintage cookie jars are those:
- From limited editions with only a few produced pieces
- From a short production period with a low number of manufactured items
- From the early period in good condition because they are rare, and most are damaged, broken, or lost
Best Places to Find Vintage Rooster Cookie Jars
It is often effortless to find vintage rooster cookie jars, but it can be tricky to discover particularly valuable and rare pieces. The best places to look for vintage jars produced from the 1950s to the 1960s include:
- Flea market
- Auction
- Garage sale
- Antique store
- Gift shop
- Collector events
- Salvation Army
Nowadays, the Net can help you find a particular vintage rooster jar on sale websites like:
- eBay
- Etsy
- Ruby Lane
- Clark’s Cookie Jars
Collector clubs
These clubs are recommended places to meet people with the same passion and learn about cookie jars. Collectors occasionally meet to discuss their hobbies and sometimes trade with jars.
You can learn a lot about:
- Cookie jar appraising techniques
- Determining cookie jar correct value
- Recognizing maker’s marks
- Discovering ways to notice fake pieces
Collector guides
You can find several excellent collector books, like identification and price guides, that offer crucial information about rooster cookie jar collectibles. The best you can find nowadays are:
- Fred and Joyce Herndon Roerig, Collector’s Encyclopedia of Cookie Jars
- Fred and Joyce Herndon Roerig, Collector’s Encyclopedia of Cookie Jars, No2
- Fred and Joyce Herndon Roerig, Collector’s Encyclopedia of Cookie Jars, No3
- Ermagene Westfall, An Illustrated Value Guide to Cookie Jars
- Ermagene Westfall, An Illustrated Value Guide to Cookie Jars, No2
- Fred and Joyce Roerig, The Ultimate Collector’s Encyclopedia of Cookie Jars
- Mark Moran, Warman’s Cookie Jars
- Mark and Ellen Supnick, The Wonderful World of Cookie Jars
- Mike Schneider, The Complete Cookie Jar Book
Since most guides provide color photographs and illustrations, they simplify rooster cookie jar identification for collectors.
Cookie Jar’s Purpose
Every kitchen needs cookie jars for numerous reasons. Besides giving personal touch to your kitchen and making cookies easily accessible, they have a few more advantages, including:
Preventing cookies from becoming stale and keeping them moist – Even though you have a few other options to save your biscuits from going stale, these beautiful jars are the most appealing solution.
Preventing mold – Jars will prevent extra moisture from forming and mold development.
Keeps bugs and mice away – Ceramic and glass cookie jars will keep your biscuits safe from pests.
Alternative Cookie Jar Uses
The cookie jars’ primary purpose is to store cookies, but you can also use them for keeping other things, such as:
In the kitchen
- Treats like sweets or pets’ treats
- Coffee
- Spices
In the bathroom
- Toothpaste
- Shower gels
- Cotton balls
- Wet napkins
In the laundry room
- Soap leftovers
- Detergent
If you are imaginative, you can find other interesting purposes for these beautiful items. For instance, you can use your rooster cookie jar to organize space:
- For keeping art props
- As a piggy bank for storing change
- As kids’ swear jar to pay a cent for each pronounced swear word
The Most Valuable Cookie Jars Worldwide
Besides rooster cookie jars, collectors look for various shapes of these items, and a few are worth a small fortune. The list of most expensive cookie jars worldwide includes the ten most desirable pieces. Let’s see.
The most expensive cookie jars |
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| Year | Jar | Price | Brand |
| 1920 | Woman player with accordion cookie jar | $2,000 | Brayton Laguna |
| 1950 | Pink poodle chef cookie jar | $1,500 | Lefton |
| 1994 | Cassidy and horse cookie jar | $1,500 | The Gallery Of Cowboy Heroes |
| 1957 | Davy Crockett cookie jar | $1,200 | McCoy |
| 1973 | Uncle Sam hat cookie jar | $1,000 | McCoy |
| 1970 | Humpty dumpty cookie jar | $900 | Metlox |
| 1950 | Face figural cookie jar (95/643) | $795 | Rimini Bitossi |
| 1960 | Coalby black cat cookie jar | $350 | McCoy |
| 1940 | Horse drawn stagecoach cookie jar | $254 | McCoy |
| 1940 | Mammy cookie jar | $250 | McCoy |
Summary
Vintage cookie jars are among favorite collectibles nowadays, and those with a rooster motif are in high demand. The first British pieces created in the 18th century were made of glass with metal lids.
After Great Depression, one American company from Ohio started the production of stoneware cookie jars. Finally, ceramic pieces as we know them today appeared soon.