[Note: in this article, Chiquita highlights some interesting McCoy cookie jars introduced over the decades. She generously shared photos from her collection; just click on the link and your browser will display the photo.]

One aspect of collecting McCoy Pottery is the cookie jar category. Of course, not all collectors who buy cookie jars are McCoy collectors, some collect cookie jars by all makers. Folks may be inspired by seeing a jar like Grandma used to fill with her homemade cookies or one designed like a favorite cartoon character from our childhood.

In the l930's, the styles made were simple in design. The shapes were basic round (ball shape), milk can or a pitcher shape with a lid. Another style was a concave cylinder shape. These cookie jars came with cold paint decorations and are quite plentiful today. (Cold paint is when the piece was completely made - a finished product, so to speak - and then the paint was applied. This is as opposed to paint being applied "under the glaze.")

In l939, McCoy produced a limited number of cookie jars with a black mammy holding a basket of cauliflower. (It has been reproduced widely, so be cautious if you're tempted to buy!) It was the beginning of an era of personable jars that have become highly collectible.

The early 1940's still had a couple of simple shapes, but they were enhanced in design by the addition of "hobnail," the little raised "bumps" in the surface. These hobnail jars came in two shapes: a round shape and a heart shape (http://www.auctionbytes.com/images/hobnail.jpg). Continuing into the 40's, styles developed into cookie jars that had their own personality: the cookie boy, black mammys and clowns. Animals became popular designs in the late 40's and into the 50's. These included elephants, penguins, bears, turkeys, cats and roosters (http://www.auctionbytes.com/images/roosters.jpg). Fruits and vegetables were also made including apples, pears and bananas to tomatoes, asparagus and peppers.

The 1950's also brought many variations of a simple cylinder design, some with hand painted flowers, some with factory-applied decals and some in colors that matched dinnerware lines and tea sets. Mid-to-late 50's cookie jars included ones surely brought to design by the popularity of little boys' adventurous dreams...Indians and Davy Crockett (http://www.auctionbytes.com/images/indian.jpg).

A covered wagon came along in l960 along with a squirrel and a chipmunk. Kangaroos, the globe, a train and caboose came along in l962. A very popular remnant of l96l is the Dalmatians in a rocking chair (also reproduced). The local Roseville, Ohio, bank was modeled into a cookie jar that served dual duty by having a coin slot in the lid (http://www.auctionbytes.com/images/cookiebank.jpg). A removable plastic stopper was in the bottom of the lid to remove your coins. The same era produced a realistic picnic basket with hand-painted goodies showing from the top of the basket, and a circus horse complete with a monkey on his back.

Coalby Cat, a wonderful black cat cookie jar, came along in l967. His decoration includes friendly blue eyes and a pink tongue. Mac Dog, named affectionately for Nelson McCoy, and a colonial fireplace were also available in l967. Nursery Rhymes and cartoon celebrities were represented by cylinder styles with decals in the l970's along with Snoopy on his doghouse, which was made for Sears.

The Space Age was influential in McCoy's designs for cookie jars, too. These designs included the Apollo Spaceship in l970 and an astronaut on top of the space capsule in l963. Friendship 7 capsule was also done in l962. Apollo and the Astronaut are harder to find and are quite desirable.

Patriotism was recognized by the Uncle Sam's Hat (http://www.auctionbytes.com/images/multicj.jpg). This jar is hat shaped with the bottom being red and white stripes with a band of blue with white stars. The lid is almost saucer shaped. The Spirit of '76, milk cans and jugs, made in l973, were in preparation for celebrating the nation's bicentennial in l976.

Sports-minded consumers were offered several choices in cookie jars. Boy on a Football and Boy on a Baseball appeared in the late 70's. Considered, but not mass-produced, were a soccer ball and a basketball.

In l979, Billie McCoy designed a Grub Box with a Western motif, complete with brands from her father's ranch in Texas. Other items matched this line: mugs, snack bowls, a pitcher and an ashtray.

This in no way represents all of the cookie jars made by McCoy Pottery. Hopefully, it includes something that might whet your appetite for collecting them. It's a wonderful and entertaining part of collecting McCoy Pottery or cookie jars in general.

Please educate yourself on the reproductions in the marketplace so that you can truly enjoy collecting these wonderful cookie jars. Further information can be found in "McCoy Pottery, Collectors Reference and Value Guide," vol.2, by Bob and Margaret Hanson and Craig Nissen. (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1574321161/auctionbytescom)