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.
Rosy Dutch Shoes #041
This pair of vintage ceramic Dutch-style clogs are in very good condition and have no cracks, chips or crazing. There is some glaze discoloration on the openings on each shoe.
Each measures 1 3/8″ tall x 2 9/16″ long x 1 3/8″ wide.
They are marked “HORTON SPECIALTY CO. Liverpool, O.” The O is an abbreviation for the state of Ohio. The Horton pottery was in existence from 1932 through 1938.
The shoes were purchased at auction for $12.00 in December of 2007. Collector’s estimated value is $20.00 to $24.00.
Information on the Ohio Potteries found at www.themuseumofceramics.org/pottery
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.
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.
Baby Shoe – Pink Metlox #026
This is a pink baby pottery shoe from Metlox Potteries of Manhattan Beach, California. Metlox was in business from 1927 through 1985. It is finished in a soft satin matte and is in perfect condition. It measures 4 7/8″ long” and 2 1/4″ high.
This shoe, used as a baby planter, could be purchased singly or in pairs, and in sets of pink, blue or white.
Unusually, this shoe has not been used, it’s interior is clean and smooth. This increases the value of the shoe.
On the sole, there is black and gold sticker, partially removed, which says Berheimer Oriental Gardens, Pacific Palisades California. If you look closely, you can see an incised “R” just above the sticker. It is difficult to photograph, but the complete inscription reads METLOX 47C and in the second line an R. The R is for right. These shoes were made in both a right (R) and a left (L) shoe.
The Berheimer Oriental Gardens at Pacifica Palisades was a popular tourist attraction from its opening in 1921 until the advent of WWII. Since the owners were German, the attraction fell on hard times in the mid-1940s and closed shortly thereafter. A large drawing of the Japanese Gardens is at the following link along with information regarding the tourist attraction.
http://www.image-archeology.com/Bernheimer_Japanese_Gardens_Hollywood_CA_775.jpg
This shoe dates between 1927 (when the factory opened) and 1941 (when the Gardens closed to the public.)
Earlene Wheatley’s reference book sets the value at this shoe at $40.00 in 2001. The shoe was purchased on an eBay auction for $6.25 plus $4.50 postage and handling on December 09, 2007. Its estimated collector value is $50 to $55.
Information found in Collector’s Encyclopedia of Metlox Potteries (Collector Books) by Carl Gibbs and Collectible Glass Shoes, 2nd Edition by Earlene Wheatley by Schroeder Publishing Co., 2001 plus information from the private antique dealer which was confirmed by internet research.
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