Cool Finds: McCoy Covered Wagon Cookie Jar

This week’s cool find is none other than a McCoy cookie jar! McCoy pottery has been highly sought after by collectors over the years, but what is McCoy and what makes them so desirable?

A Brief History

While the McCoy name was known in business as far back as 1848 with his grandfather, Nelson McCoy is known for founding the Nelson McCoy Sanitary Stoneware Company in 1910 with his father in Roseville, Ohio. This company created functional products, such as jugs, jars, and crocks. By the 1930s, McCoy found themselves a significant player in the American pottery industry, and in 1933, they were rebranded to the Nelson McCoy Pottery Company.

Under this new brand, McCoy introduced new product lines, branching into the decorative space. With the inclusion of vases, planters and figurines in their lineup, McCoy also introduced new designs, including the iconic cookie jars collectors still seek to this day. McCoy pottery reached peak popularity in the 1950s and ‘60s, with their products lining shelves all over the country and becoming a staple in American homes.

In 1967, the Mt. Clemens Pottery Company purchased McCoy, keeping Nelson McCoy Jr. signed on as the president. Unfortunately, the ‘70s brought a decline to their success as foreign manufacturers and shifting consumer preferences resulted in losing their foothold in the market. They were sold twice more, ending up with Designer Accents in 1985, who made every attempt to revive McCoy products under the name Nelson McCoy Ceramics, including previously discontinued products and new designs.

Unfortunately, in 1990, Designer Accents closed its doors, marking the end of the McCoy era.

Why Collect McCoy?

McCoy is quite often deemed the most sought after pottery in the country, and permanent lack of continued production solidifies that fact. As these pieces entered the antique and auction worlds, people started to recognize high-profile sales and began to start collecting them themselves. The main thing I’ve learned about antiques is the sheer quality and craftsmanship with which they’re made - McCoy is no exception. Their durability over the years has proven that they should still be around when our successors realize their value.

Time also brings rarity. As more pieces are snatched up or accidentally broken, demand begins to outweigh supply, leading many former collectors to inflate the value of their McCoys, so be careful when hunting for them. From vases and planters to cookie jars and dinnerware, McCoy’s iconic designs bring delight and (for those a bit older than I am) a sense of nostalgia that urges us to add one to our collection, especially for a good deal.