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.
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.
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.
Baby Shoes or Booties – an Overview
Baby shoes were a popular curio item, first in the 1890s when pressed glass was highly sought. Glass was often an experiment at that time as the glass-blowers turned to the newer methods of pressed glass. Experimentally adding different chemicals, they made different clors of glass, most popular were green, gold, blue, yellow, vaseline and cystal. This technique produced a totally different type of glass and was well accepted by the public. Some of the earlier pressed glass pieces were made in honor of the Colombian Exposition in Chicago, IL in 1876. Two proprietors of shoe companies, George Duncan and Sons and Bryce, McKee and Co patented the same type of pressed shoe in 1886. Baby shoe moulds were soon fabricated and appeared in the 1890s.
Porcelain baby shoes were also a popular piece among the European artists, particularly those crafting in porcelain. These were made in significant quantities in the 1920s through the 1950s.
A third period of miniature or novelty shoe production came forward and peaked in the 1930s and 40s when art or studio potteries frequently made small baby booties, specifically made as pots for plants for new mothers. Many of these pieces of pottery are indelibly stained by contact with earth for decades. Pottery companies in business always have a baby bootie in their catalog of the size that would fit a typical one year old.
The Fenton Glass Company (early 1900s through current) and other contemporary glass companies (Mosser, Boyd, Degenhart) all made their own baby booties, sometimes as re-productions, sometimes as introductions.
Of course, in the post WWII market, these baby shoes were prolifically produced as copies in Japan, both in the era of Occupied Japan from 1946 through 1952, and then in the “Made in Japan” era. Japanese products were accepted by the general public, especialy since many sanctions protecteing the Allie’s positions had been implemented, ie. ceramic factories were highly encouraged to function as they had no connection to weaponry.
All types of baby shoes are still made by a large number of manufacturers as they remain a popular staple in shoe miniatures and baby planters. One company, Metlox, now advertises their baby shoes as cactus containers.
This is a very brief over-view of the progression of the making of collectible and antique baby shoes in the last 200+ years.
Some references:
http://pages.eagleridgecollectibles.com/1340/InventoryPage/1927783/2.html Also Collectible Glass Shoes by Earlene Wheatley, published by Schroeder Publishing, 2001 and Shoes of Glass 2 by Libby Yalom, published by The Glass Press, 1998.
Vaseline Glass Baby Bootie #008
This baby bootie is made of Vaseline glass which was discussed in length in the following post. http://shoeboxes.wordpress.com/2007/12/12/vaseline-glass-the-magic-glass/
This shoe is an acquisition of the Lillian P. Wood Memorial Collection. It is 4 1/8″ x 2 1/2″, has a ribbed vamp (upper) and two flowers at the front opening. The rest of the shoe is in a very small, finely cut diamond pattern and their is ribbing on the back.
There are three varieties of this shoe known today. The above shoe, maker unknown, has a very wide round toe and the overall opening is the largest of the three. The original shoe was made circa 1886 by the Duncan Company. It has a point at the toe and the opening is the widest of the three known types of shoes. Some Duncan booties are marked PAT’D. OCT. 19/86 on the sole. This bootie was made in crystal, amber, blue and Vaseline. The second manufacturer known was the Fenton Glass Co. of Williamstown, WV. They made the booties in 1938-39 in several colors including Vaseline. The bootie was made again in the 1950 through 1970s, but not in the Vaseline color.
Detail of the two flowers at the front opening of the shoe. Ribbed back with detailed diamond pattern on the back of the sides. The sole of the shoe has a large open toe with solid closed heel.
Estimated date of manufacture is circa 1930s. This shoe was purchased at Bloomington Antique Mall in Bloomington, IL in July of 2001 for $55. Estimated collector value is $70.
Information from Shoes of Glass and Shoes of Glass, 2 by Libby Yalom, published by The Glass Press, 1989. This book has a very clear description of the three manufacturers of this shoe and a photograph showing the varieties and specifications of the different soles. A photograph of this shoe is on page 74 of Wheatley’s first book.
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