Notes - -
From the Diary of a Cookie Jar Collector. . . .
by Sandi Phillips

I began collecting cookie jars about 11 years ago. I didn't really mean to start, it just kinda happened! (Is this something you can relate to??) I frequented a local antique mall and they took in a vintage Dutch girl cookie jar. She had been repainted, not that I knew that at the time, but it looked like she would be great in my kitchen. I "picked" for the owner of the mall and it took me $9.00 of yard sale stuff to get the jar. Then a rocking chair full of Dalmatian puppies jar came in, this time it took $15.00 worth of yard sale stuff to get the jar! It was all down hill from there! Now 11 years later I have approximately 300 jars.

The only reference book available was Ermagene Westfall's. I pored over it and thought I want this jar, that jar and so on! Over the years, I discovered that a collection evolves with what you find and can afford, rather than being planned out. One of the jars I still want, the Regal China Alice in Wonderland, I have never even seen except in the books.

Vintage jars eleven years ago were a lot less expensive than they are now. It was not uncommon to see a good jar, like my Shawnee Chrysanthemums Smiley, which I bought in mint condition for $65.00. For my gold trimmed, mint condition, blue American Bisque Yarn Doll, I paid $51.00. Good jars could be found in the $50-$75.00 range quite frequently, but that is not the case these days! Today's prices make the hunt even more fun, when you turn the corner and find a great jar at an affordable price.

Many factors have made cookie jar collecting easier in some ways and more challenging in others. There are so many reference books available now. What a great tool they are for us collectors, with all the reproduction jars out there! I believe that you have to educate yourself, knowledge will give you the tools you need to buy a cookie jar with confidence.

How blessed we are, with vintage jars going up so high in price, that the new cookie jar market has exploded with all kinds of wonderful, affordable jars. The fun of the hunt was diminishing for me, I would hunt and hunt, and not be able to afford the vintage jars I found. It isn't very fun to come home empty handed! On my last trip for example, I found a mint condition American Bisque flasher jar for $450.00. Needless to say, I didn't feel I could afford the jar and did not purchase it. The majority of jars that are added to my collection these days are new jars.

The Internet has also made a huge difference in my collection. I have met folks from all over the United States, we share information in locating jars, finding the best places to buy and have a ball discussing our collections. Although I do not consider myself an expert by any means with only 6 purchases under my belt, eBay has become a source of jars for me. It is almost unbelievable to me all of the bogus jars I see there . I guess the one that puzzles me the most is a reproduction of Treasure Craft's Snow White. The jar was on eBay; it was the wrong colors and evenly crazed. This jar is NOT old, why would it be crazed? At this point that jar doesn't book very high, so why the reproduction? Of course there seem to be a lot of reproductions of high end jars, wherever you search.

Even after all these years cookie jar collecting is still very enjoyable for me. I still believe the fun is in the hunt and in the sharing of your knowledge and collection with other collectors. The very best finds in my collection remain the friends I have made in the cookie jar world. Many of these friends have enriched my collection and life, by sharing their knowledge and friendship.

As I have started to run out of room (and money!) how do I know if I REALLY want a jar? If I am not asking myself, where will I put this? I know that it's gotta come home with me. That's my rule of thumb, I guess!

My advice to you is to enjoy the hunt, buy what you can afford, and continue educating yourself to avoid unwise buys. Happy hunting! :)