California Originals Jars

By
Barbara Crews
    Barbara Crews is a lifelong collector who was featured on A&E for her collections. She has contributed to Antique Trader, Today’s Vintage, and more.
    our editorial process
    Barbara Crews
    Updated March 17, 2017
    01
    of 14

    Cookie Monster

    Barb Crews

    California Originals started life in 1945 as Heirlooms of Tomorrow, making fine quality porcelain lace figurines. How the company changed directions from those intricate figurines to the brown cookie jars it's became known for is a mystery to me, but the name was changed, the company moved to Torrence California and the production of pottery artware began.

    Several companies produced brown wood-grain color jars, but California Originals and Twin Winton were the most prolific. Their finishes are quite distinctive, when it wasn't brown, it was often in a matte finish, often with cold paint.

    California Original jars are marked usually on the side, bottom portion of the jar. Several of the jars shown in the gallery have links to their particular mark.

    This is the jar that started me on the road to collecting! There have been numerous Sesame Street Cookie Monster jars produced over the years, but this is the original one.

    • Produced: California Originals
    • Size: 12"
    • Mark: Muppets Inc 970
    • Values: $65. - $95.
    02
    of 14

    Oscar the Grouch

    © Barb Crews

    Another great licensed jar from California Originals. Check out the original catalog advertisement for a quartet of Sesame Street jars offered for sale in 1977.

    • Circa: 1977
    • Size: 12"
    • Original Price: $17.95
    • Current Values: $40. - $65
    03
    of 14

    Count Dracula

    Barb Crews

    Count Dracula has been reproduced by Hawkeye Collectibles, the mold is the same, but slightly smaller. The reproduction jar has gold trim.

    • Produced: California Originals
    • Size: 11 3/4"
    • Mark: 975
    • Values: $275. - $400.

    See side by side comparisons of authentic vs reproduction.

    04
    of 14

    Cuckoo Clock

    Barb Crews
    • Shown on 1976 Catalog Sheets
    • Approximately 9 ½"
    • Estimated Values - $150. - $200.
    05
    of 14

    Little Red Riding Hood

    California Originals
    California Originals. Barb Crews

    This Little Red Riding Hood jar has a certain charm but is a far cry from other Little Red Riding Hood jars that are often delicate and quite attractive. This value on this jar ranks up with many of the Hull Regal jars, but is not as sought after by collectors.

    • Made by California Originals
    • Size: 13 1/4"
    • Rarity: Hard to Find
    • Values: $250 - $350
    • Mark: 320
    06
    of 14

    Donald Duck on Pumpkin

    Barbara Crews
    • Produced by: California Originals
    • Date: 1970s
    • Size: 12 ¼"
    • Values: $175 - $250

    See more Donald Duck Cookie jars!

    07
    of 14

    Mickey on Drum

    Bill Correll
    • Produced: California Originals
    • Size: 11.75" tall
    • Values: $200 - $250
    08
    of 14

    Dumbo Jar from California Originals

    Dumbo California Originals. Dropzone439 -- eBay Seller
    • California Originals Jar
    • Marks: Walt Disney Prod U.S.A. 969
    • Available: 1960s/1970s?
    • Values: $450 - $800

    Image Courtesy of eBay Seller Dropzone439

    09
    of 14

    California Originals Tigger

    Jimmy Bennett

    One of the classic jars from California Originals. It is believed this jar was sold at Sears, Roebuck in the 1970s.

    • Size: 12"
    • Values: $175 - $275.
    10
    of 14

    Bambi

    Bill Correll
    • Produced: California Originals
    • Values: $225. - $275.
    11
    of 14

    Noahs Ark

    Barb Crews
    • Produced: California Originals
    • Size: 12"
    • Mark: 881 USA
    • Values: $90. - $150.
    12
    of 14

    California Originals Schoolhouse Cookie jar

    school house cookie jar
    Barb Crews
    • Produced: California Originals
    • Size: 12 1/2"
    • Mark: 869
    • Values: $25. - $75.

    This jar has particularly good cold paint, most of the school house jars I've seen are in fairly poor condition.

    13
    of 14

    Lion and Lamb by California Original

    Mickelson Auction
    • California Original
    • Auction Price: $115.
    • Auction Date: May 2010

    Here are a few more California Original jar prices from the Snyder Auction:
    California Original
    Lion and Lamp -- $115.
    Platypus-- $150.
    Penguin -- $30.
    Woody Woodpecker -- $170.
    Clown on Drum -- $475.
    Humpty Dumpty -- $50.

    14
    of 14

    Penguin by California Original

    Mickelson Auction

    This hard-to-find California Original jar isn't seen very often. The buyer of this particular jar saw it at a Mickelson auction many years ago when Charlie Snyder won that bidding war. They looked for it ever since, never to find one. This is apparently the one missed so many years ago.

    • California Original
    • Auction Price: $30.
    • Auction Date: May 2010

    Here are a few more California Original jar prices from the Snyder Auction:
    California Original
    Lion and Lamp -- $115.
    Platypus-- $150.
    Penguin -- $30.
    Woody Woodpecker -- $170.
    Clown on Drum -- $475.
    Humpty Dumpty -- $50.