Treasure Craft Cookie Jars

Treasure Craft Howdy Doody Jar

Large well-made jars are typical of the Treasure Craft brand. From the early days of brown jars to the later limited editions of popular characters, Treasure Craft has always appealed to collectors, but never quite reaching the status of a must-have pottery. Although several jars are quite valuable and hard-to-find, most are in the average price and availability category.

• Treasure Craft was founded in Gardena, California, in 1945 by Alfred A. Levin sold items from California potters.
• In the 1950s Treasure Craft was manufacturing its own ceramics.
• In November 1988 Treasure Craft was acquired by the Pfaltzgraff Company.
• Treasure Craft ceased manufacturing in Los Angeles in 1995 and items were imported from Mexico and Asia.
• The years 1998 - 1999 saw an ownership change at Treasure Craft, although the name and location remained the same.
• Zak Designs acquired Treasure Craft in 1999 and the ceramic cookie jars have never been quite the same and now appear to be phased out of line.

In the late 1990s, Treasure Craft did a series of limited edition character jars. The Howdy Doody jar was one of the more popular pieces made in the series and today is considered quite collectible.

• Made by: Treasure Craft
• Size: 12"
• Limited Edition: 1000
• Issue Price: $250
• Estimated Values: $250 - $400

Treasure Craft Poohs

What's Cooking Pooh and Pooh & Piglet are both Treasure Craft jars. Both jars show "Made in China" or "China" on the base.

Babar the Elephant Cookie Jar

Thie jar was part of the Gallery Series and that also included: Dennis the Menace, Howdy Doody, Steamboat Willie, Paddington Bear, and Raggedy Ann.

• Made by: Treasure Craft
• Limited Edition: 1000
• Date: 1997 (approx)
• Size: Approximately 14"
• Values: $75 - $125

Treasure Craft Russian Katrina

This is very sought after jar. Treasure Craft had a hard time with the production of this jar and it was discontinued - after only about 40 jars were produced.

• Made by: Treasure Craft
• Size: Approximately 13"
• Values: $225 - $300

Paddington Bear Cookie Jar

Thie jar was part of the Gallery Series and that also included: Dennis the Menace, Howdy Doody, Steamboat Willie, Babar the Elephant, and Raggedy Ann.

• Made by: Treasure Craft
• Limited Edition: 1000
• Date: 1998
• Size: Approximately 13"
• Values: $125 - $200

Treasure Craft Winnie the Pooh Crock

The Treasure Craft crock is all Poohs and bees around the jar. He's looking inside a "hunney" pot, as well as other poses around the jar.

Roly Cookie Jar

Roly, one of the 101 Dalmatians was a jar produced by Treasure Craft in the mid-1990s. The large jar was heavy and well-made.

• Made by: Treasure Craft
• Issue Date: Mid-1990s
• Issue Price: $35 - $40
• Values: $40 - $75

Image Courtesy of J&V Collectibles/TIAS

Donald Duck Sitting Cookie Jar

• Made by: Treasure Craft
• Date: 1990s
• Size: Approximately 14"
• Values: $40 - $65

Donald Duck Bust Jar Pictures and Prices

• Made by: Treasure Craft
• Date: Late 1990s
• Size: Approximately 13"
• Values: $25 - $45

Zaks' Tigger and Pooh Cookie Jar

• Sold in Wal-Mart
• Date: Fall 2003
• Manufacturer: Zaks
• Issue Price: $16

Firefighter Mickey Mouse Cookie Jar

This jar was one of the seasonal jars offered by Wal-Mart in 2003.

• Issue Date: Fall 2003
• Manufacturer: Zaks
• Issue Price: $16

Dennis the Menace Cookie Jar

Thie jar was made in the history of Treasure Craft when it was owned by a separate ownership group that purchased the company from Pfaltzgraff. The jars made during this time were often limited edition pieces, large and popular with collectors. Dennis is part of the Gallery Series and included: Babar the Elephant, Howdy Doody, Steamboat Willie, Paddington Bear, and Raggedy Ann.

• Made by: Treasure Craft
• Limited Edition: 1000
• Date: 1997 (approx)
• Size: Approximately 15"
• Values: $225 - $275

Classic Pooh

The Classic Pooh was one of the later jars from the Treasure Craft Company. Like most of their jars, it's well-made, a great design heavy jar. The Classic Pooh design is right from the A. Milne illustrations, a perfect pick for the Pooh collector.

• Date: Mid-nineties
• Size: 12" tall
• Estimated Value: $25 - $40

Note: This same design has been showing up at online auctions marked Brush-McCoy or McCoy. Those are sloppy looking fakes, don't be taken by buying one of those jars, when you can get an authentic jar for the same price online.

Cool Cow - 1998

Yes, the jar above shows Eli's cookie jar, but if you look at the small inset, you can see the identical Braums jar, the only difference is the logo on the pocket. Both jars were made and customized by Treasure Craft, who also made the jar without a logo, e.g. non-advertising jar.

The Cool Cow Cookie Jar was the second of four jars produced by Braums' Dairy and as with all their jars, it was only available directly purchased from their stores. No phone, mail or Internet options were available.

• Made by Treasure Craft
• Issue Date: November 1998
• Size: 10" (approx)
• Issue price: $30
• Current Values: $30 - $50

Cow - 1999

This is the third jar in the Braums series of cookie jars and it's another jar that was customized by Treasure Craft. The jar has been sold by Treasure Craft in the regular line of jars, e.g. non-advertising.

• Made by Treasure Craft
• Issue Date: Fall 1999
• Issue price: Approx. $30
• Current Values: $30 - $50

Milk Can - 2000

The fourth and last year in the Braums' series of cookie jars. I believe it was made by Treasure Craft, but not entirely sure.

• Issue Date: 2000
• Issue price: Approx. $30
• Current Values: $30 - $50

Raggedy Ann and Andy

The gorgeous jar was part of the Gallery Series from Treasure Craft. There was also a coordinating salt and pepper.

• Size: 15"
• Limited Edition: 1000
• Values: $125 - $175

Rag Doll Sugar Cookie Jar

Treasure Craft produced two rag doll jars, Sugar (shown) and Spice, the black version of the doll jars. There is a look-a-like copy of this jar that is quite a bit smaller, made by an unknown company.

• Size: approx. 14"
• Values: $75 - $100

Spice Doll Cookie Jar

Treasure Craft produced two rag doll jars, Spice (shown) and Sugar, the blonde version of the dolls.

• Date Produced: 1993
• Size: 14"
• Values: $100 - $150

Mardi Gras Grand Marshal Cookie Jar

This limited edition jar was produced by Treasure Craft for Mardi Gras Records, a New Orleans music company in business since 1977.

• Advertising jar purchased directly from Mardi Gras Records
• Circa: 1995
• Size: 13.75""
• Limited edition of 500
• The Issue price was approximately $79
• Estimated Values -- $125 - $150

*Note
Clay Art also produced a very similar looking jar, with New Orleans on the Grand Marshal's banner. Clay Art jar is quite a bit smaller at 10".

Other Mardi Gras jars include the Alfano Studios mask (linked below); a Marilyn Monroe as Grand Marshall in a parade car also from Clay Art.