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.
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