Pale Green Ceramic Baby Shoe #045
This is an art pottery baby shoe from an unknown maker, circa 1940s to early 1950s.
The shoes are in excellent with no cracks, chips or crazing. Good overall glazing Measurements are 4 1/4″ long, 2 5/8″ high and 1 15/16″ wide,
This shoe was purchased at auction in 1994 for $4.00. This estimated collector’s value is $10.00.
Information from the reference book, Collectible Glass Shoes by Earlene Wheatley, published by Schroeder Publishing, 2001. Other information was recorded from personal papers.
Native American Moccasins #042
These cream colored moccasins with gray rabbit fur on the uppers. Simple scalloped bead work around the openings and at the base of the front flap. A ten bead cross is on each vamp. The beads are multi-colored and glass.
These shoes were purchased at the Rockefeller Center in New York City in 1944. They were given to Lillian P Wood by daughters from a train trip they took to NYC. The two girls, aged 18 and 22, were invited to NYC to attend a Ships’ Ball at the Hotel Astoria. According to private papers, the daughters were in a train car loaded with servicemen and so they took turns sleeping throughout the trip.
The moccasins each measure 3″ long x 7/8″ wide x 1 1/2″ high. They were made by Native Americans as souvenirs.
Unknown purchase price and origin. Estimated collector’s value is $25.00 to $35.00.
A “Block Company Pottery” Baby Shoe #036
The Block Pottery was a family-owned business that operated in Los Angeles, California from 1940 to 1949. They made some of the best in California Pottery in that era.
The shoe is finished in a very smooth matte in an off-white with pink and blue trim. It measures 4 1/2″ long, 2 1/2″ high and 2 1/4″ wide. There are a pair of these shoes in the Lillian P Wood Memorial Collection. The shoes have no cracks or chips, but there is a moderate amount of crazing.
This vintage shoe is typical of the major potteries’ production lines in the 1940s and 50s. Nearly every art pottery had a baby bootie planter in their catalogue offerings.
Although it is difficult to see in the photo, the pottery is identified “BLOCK POTTERY CALIFORNIA” on each shoe. These shoes are from the original collection. Unidentified gift.
The collector value of the pair is in the $75.00 to $85.00 range. They were valued at $60.oo in the reference book, Collectible Glass Shoes by Earlene Wheatley, published by Schroeder Publishing, 2001. Other information was recorded from a personal interview with BJ.
Occupied Japan Copy-Cat Shoes #034 and #035
Post-WWII Japan made a great deal of ceramics as it was one of the industries encouraged as it was considered safe and non-military. It has a “MADE IN OCCUPIED JAPAN” stamp on the sole in red ink. This stamp was required on all imports from post WW II Japan from 9.2.45 to 4.28.52.
It was less expensive to copy an existing shoe rather than design originals, and the practice was accepted and pervasive. Note these two shoes are similar. They are each a copy of a single shoe maufactured by two Japanese companies. The shoes are approximately the sizes shown in the photograph. The right shoe measures 1 7/8″ long, 1 1/4″ high and 15/16″ wide. The left shoe has slightly different dimensions: length is 1 15/16″, height is 1 1/2″ and width is 1 1/16.” Obviously, they are nearly the exact size.
But there are many clear contrasts. The right shoe has more delicate features – a better quality of ceramic material, a nicely detailed rose, and the pink flower is painted and shaded nicely. The gold has been applied with a steady hand, and totally rings the rim. The left shoe is made with less care. The white ceramic has stained and cannot be cleaned. The pink rose is inferior in quality, though the blue flower and leaves are nearly alike. The gold has rubbed off on half of the rim.
They each have a “MADE IN OCCUPIED JAPAN” stamp on the sole in black ink; they are obviously two different imprints. This type of stamp was required on all imports from Japan during post-WWII, dating from 9.2.45 to 4.28.52. All Occupied Japan collectibles have the distinct advantage of accurate dating. These shoes are between 55 to 62 years old. There are no chips, cracks or crazing on either of these shoes.
Occupied Japan collectibles are sought after, since there are a finite number of items, and will only become more valuable. However currently these are not expensive shoes. Estimated collector value of the right shoe is $6 to $12 and of the left shoe, $4 to $8.
Information about the shoes was found in the books, Collectible Glass Shoes by Earlene Wheatley, published by Schroeder Publishing, 2001 and and The Collector’s Guide to Made in Japan Ceramics by Carol Bess White, published by Schroeder Publishing Co, 1996.
Tiffin Art Pottery Baby Booties #033
This is a tiny pair of white art pottery baby shoes. They were purchased in Tiffin, Ohio, which is a major region for art potteries. There have been in excess of 220 potteries in the Tiffin area, the earliest opening in the 1820s. Many lasted decades, some only a year or two, and some are still in operation.
There are no identifying marks, except for the circles on the top of each shoe which contains a C, much like the copyright symbol. The pair measure 1 11/16″ long, 1 7/16 wide, and 1 1/16″ tall.
This pair of shoes was given to Lillian P Wood by a distant cousin, Claucia Leightly. Unknown maker. Circa 1900s. Estimated collector value is $40 to $55.
Pink Porcelain Bootie #032
This is a delicate porcelain shoe of very good quality, very light and very strong in a matte pink. Open eyelets and nice detail are features of this little bootie.
The shoe measures 3 3/8″ in length, 1 3/4″ in height, and 1 7/16″ in width. There is a pink porcelain rose and green leaves affixed to the toe. There are no chips, cracks or crazing.
There is a pink porcelain rose and green leaves affixed to the toe.
The bottom of the shoe has no manufacturing marks, but has information regarding acquisition to the Lillian P Wood Memorial Collection. It was given to Lillian P Wood in July of 1956 by family. It was purchased in Park Rapids, Minnesota, a resort town on the MN/ND border.
White Art Pottery Baby Shoe #035
This is an art pottery baby bootie made in the typical fashion of a pottery which makes figurals and shoes as part of its line. It has better detail than most, especially in the heel area, and it has a thicker, more satiny glaze. The toe of the underside of the shoe has also been glazed. It has been detailed with an aqua glaze for shoe laces.
It is in very good condition with no cracks, chips or crazing. There does appear to be a very small area on the back edge of the rim which took less glaze than the rest of the shoe, but it is completely glazed over.
The bootie measures 4 1/2″ long, 3″ high and 2 1/8″ wide. There are no pottery markings or identification of the manufacturer on any part of the shoes.
The shoe does have handwritten pencil markings which read “10/ANO/35.” The Wood family vacationed in San Antonio, Texas in August of 1935, visiting Aletha and Paul Gordon, Lillian’s ex-boss from Quincy, and crossed the border into Mexico for shopping. They purchased this shoe at that time. 10 probably refers to the price in pesos. Estimated value of the baby bootie is $20 to $25.
Information for the history of pottery and shoes was found in the book, Collectible Glass Shoes by Earlene Wheatley, published by Schroeder Publishing, 2001. Other information was recorded from a personal interview with BJ.
Blue Art Pottery Baby Shoe #034
A solid piece of American Pottery, and very typical. Nearly all United States potteries that made novelties had a baby shoe in their catalogs or showrooms.
Some of this pottery does not clean well, especially the inside when it’s been a plant container. There is a 1/2″ light brown stain on the interior rim, though the rest of the inside of the bootie is clean. It has two protuberances on the inside sole of the shoe approximately 3/8″ high.
The shoe, except for the rim stain is in good condition with no crazing, cracks or chips. Glaze is evenly distributed. It is circa 1950s.
Proof that it’s from the U.S.A. Stamped clearly in the center on the shoe in BIG letters. It is somewhat unusual in that it has a raised sole. Most booties of this type are flat and unglazed. Estimated value is $15 to $20.
Information regarding ceramic figurals and shoes was found in Collectible Glass Shoes by Earlene Wheatley, published by Schroeder Publishing, 2001. Other information was obtained from personal papers and records of BP.
Vintage Art Pottery Baby Shoe #033
A very nicely made pink, pottery bootie, with impressions for eyelets on both edges and shoe strings. The tongue hangs over the vamp of the shoe.
The shoe is in excellent condition with no chips, cracks or crazing though shoes of this age always seem to look a little dusty, even when clean. There are the typical imperfections from firing which do not adversely affect the condition of the shoe.
Here the detail is seen. The shoe measures 4″ long, 2 1/2″ high and 2″ wide.
This baby shoe was given to Lillian P Wood in January 1950. “Prante” on the sole refers to Chloe Prante who was a member of the Northeast Garden Club in Quincy, IL with Lillian. The price, $1.00, is marked on the toe in light pencil.
There are no imprints or marks on this bootie, but it does appear to be of the quality seen in the mid range US art potteries. Most of these shoes were not marked. These type of “bootie planters” are plentiful and estimated value is $8 to $15.
Information regarding pottery shoes found in Collectible Glass Shoes by Earlene Wheatley, published by Schroeder Publishing, 2001. Other information obtained from personal papers and interviews with BJ.
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