the real McCoy

Every kitchen needs at least one vintage cookie jar, I think.

I became interested in cookie jars about 5 years ago when I went on the 127 yard sale and saw various McCoy and Hull cookie jars on roadside tables throughout Tennessee and Kentucky. Lots of fakes though, some more obvious then others. I was hesitant to buy, however, my interest was sparked.

After returning, this McCoy black "cookstove" cookie jar caught my eye at Stephenson’s Auction in Southampton, PA. Someone was bidding against me when the bidding started at $10, but when it went up to $35, it was mine.

This piece, from what I have read, dates from the early 60s. Its gold trim and other painted designs are delicate and prone to flaking, but this particular one is in good shape. I’ve also seen pictures of this same McCoy cookie jar in a matte white finish, with the same gold trim.

And no, I don't keep cookies in it...use it for decorative display only! My cookies are wrapped up, in the pantry.

surviving Stangl

A "Jersey girl" by birth, I guess maybe that's part of the reason I like both melmac Boontonware and Stangl dinnerware -- New Jersey is the common denominator!

Stangl is known for artware, figurines(such as Stangl birds), and hand-painted dinnerware, often in floral or fruit patterns.

Stangl had a factory in Trenton, which I believe was the origin of the pictured pieces, which are the "Apple Delight" pattern. This creamer, sugar bowl, and divided serving dish are practically all that remain from the full set of "Apple Delight" that my mother had from the 1960s. I also have (not pictured) her gravy boat in this pattern. My mother used this Stangl for her everyday dishes: the plates broke many years ago, and these less-used serving pieces survived. As I like to mix and match, I often use them with my other dishes.

tick tock

Although not specifically for a kitchen, I want to display a picture of my retro clock, a $35 e-bay acquistion several years ago. The clock was manufactured in the 1950s by United Clock Corp. in Brooklyn.

My grandparents had this model by their TV, on a table in their Morristown, NJ duplex, where they lived in the 1950s and 60s. I used to admire it when I was a child, enjoying when my grandfather would flick the back switch that made the little fireplace logs glow red. A single nightlight-size red bulb gives that charming effect. Growing up in the same duplex house, I was constantly visiting my grandparents and spent much time in the room with the clock!


One day in 2003, a random memory of me in my grandparents' house and the clock on the table popped into my head. I googled the words "fireplace clock" and was excited when several appeared up on e-bay in a matter of seconds. I have no idea of what became of the specific one from Morristown, but this one, down to the smallest details, is an exact match.