Shawnee Tales
March 2020
by Lin Romberg
Already another month gone by!
More on the ponies - I am learning there are more variations than I ever thought. Still have not heard from anyone that has a blue and mint green - we think they are one in the same, they sure look blue to those of us trying to figure it out.
Update from the collector with ponies posted last month. "I checked the bottom of my other ponies. The yellow pink and "mint green" (formerly referred to as blue) are all marked Kenwood U.S.A. 1509. The 2nd picture of ponies ,red, white, red with gold trim and even the Medallion are all marked Shawnee U.S.A. 506."
Another collector's picture with some other pony variations.
Also some additional information on experimental glazes - Two Kenwood pieces from the lobster plate series.
"Here is a piece I got off eBay years ago, with a standard lobster plate for reference. it is a cream base with spatter black, I got two, but the other one arrived in pieces, it was a turquoise base."
In Arizona I have seen very little lobster in any of the shops. Years ago I found a hors d'oeuvre holder at a swap meet for fifty cents!
An avid collector contributed this article on the Tile-Blox. I think you need to be in the heartland of pottery to discover items like these!
"The Shawnee Pottery architectural Tile-Blox were never sold. Tile-Blox were marketed and advertised but never priced or offered for sale, due to the plant closure of Shawnee Pottery Company in 1961. However a limited amount had been produced.
Luckily, we were able to obtain 9 of these Tile Blox from the grandson of a Shawnee Pottery employee who worked there in 1961. As the company was closings its doors forever, he was rescuing as many Tile Blox as he could. He placed them in his barn for safe keeping, where they remained until about 2010.
Tile- Blox have a very shiny, glossy finish comparable to Shawnee's speckled Tiara style. They measure 7 1/2 inches high and 7 3/4 inches wide.
Consider yourself lucky, and buy immediately. if you come across these beauties in your pottery search, as they are not easily found!
The colors from the picture below, top to bottom, left to right are: pink, yellow, gray, lilac, medium green, aqua, mint green , a very very light bluish green and gray with light speckles."
Doug has some he bought in Zanesville from Juan - "I can't recall the exact date I bought mine from him, I'm thinking 20 years ago. I'm still looking for the pictures of them to get the date. These were stored in his basement. The barn stored ones may have been from his estate, who knows. These Blox make great shelf supports for displaying some of your collection, one on each end for a glass or wood shelf."
Another collector sent in a picture of her Christmas gift from her husband - a beautiful Dutch Girl with original label still intact. Displayed with other recent additions to her collection. Love the display
There is a new page on Facebook where you can list particular Shawnee items or parts you are looking for - hope it helps collectors match up pieces on their want list. Search under Shawnee Pottery Most Wanted.
The listing information on the Facebook Gold clown cookie jar has disappeared - the site is not getting as much following as it should - here is a picture of the gold JoJo that sold - beautiful jar.
Doug's Corner
