NOTE: This auction date was cancelled and will be held in the summer of 2006, date to be announced.
ALLENTOWN, Pa. ? On Nov. 18-20, Randy Inman Auctions will offer one of America?s largest collections of cookie jars and figural ceramic items at the Allentown Fairgrounds Agricultural Hall. Consigned in its entirety by New York City collector Wendy Johnston, the 40-year collection includes 2,150 lots of cookie jars, salt & peppers, character teapots, condiment sets, planters, water sprinklers, ?napkin ladies? and other vintage ceramic novelties.


?This is one of the largest and best-known collections of its type,? said Inman. ?In the past, authors of reference books on cookie jars often turned to Wendy for images because in many cases she is the only one known to own certain jars. Probably 20 or 30 of the jars are prototypes.?

In all, there are around 10,000 items in the sale, which have been cataloged as group lots. The great majority of the items are American made, from the 1940s through the 1960s, but there are also many later examples from the 1970s and 1980s, when Disney, Looney Tunes and modern character jars were made offshore.

?Wendy?s collection covers so many crossover categories,? Inman said. ?There?s a large grouping of holiday pieces ? Christmas, Halloween and Easter ? and all types of characters, from Davy Crockett to Howdy Doody.?

The 500-lot Friday evening session features hundreds of sets of salt & pepper shakers, all of them old and original, as well as more than 100 ceramic still banks. Additionally, the opening inventory includes more than 50 character lamps and planters (Mickey Mouse, Donald Duck, Pluto, the Lone Ranger, etc.), around 35 water sprinklers (used while ironing clothes), Kliban cat pieces, condiment sets and teapots.

The highlight of the session is a 30-piece Hillbilly spice set comprised of cookie jar, creamers, sugars, butter dishes, teapots, spice containers and salt & pepper shakers.

A special interest section of the sale consists of more than 50 American-made napkin ladies. ?These are not commonly seen items,? said Inman. ?If you go into any large antique mall, you?d be lucky to see even one of them.?

Saturday is devoted to 800+ cookie jars dating from the early 20th century through the 1960s, with all makers represented. Many scarce, better-quality jars will be offered, among them a McCoy Hillbilly Frog, Howdy Doody, and Herman & Catnip ? the latter being one of only three or four known to exist.

Other stand-out lots include a McCoy Hillbilly Frog fountain, which is a one of a kind item from the lobby of the McCoy factory; and an array of Alice in Wonderland items comprised of an Alice cookie jar, Mad Hatter teapot, Tweedle Dum and Tweedle Dee salt & peppers with original gold paint, and creamer and sugar fashioned as Wonderland figures.

Sunday?s session consists of more than 500 new-old stock items, most in their original boxes and in excellent to near-mint condition. With the grouping are rare discontinued cookie jars and standard-issue jars from such makers as Fitz & Floyd, Treasure Craft and Metlox, among others.

The auction will take place in the Agricultural Hall of the Allentown Fairgrounds in Allentown, Pa. The Friday session commences at 5 p.m., with a preview on that day from 10-5. The Saturday and Sunday sessions commence at 10 a.m., with doors opening for the preview at 8 a.m. All forms of bidding will be available including live via the Internet through eBay Live Auctions.

Catalogs are $20 postpaid, and will be available around the 1st of November. An electronic catalog may be viewed online around the same time at www.LiveAuctioneers.com.
Contact: (207) 872-6900