Vintage Mushroom Collector News

A Closer Look: Colors of Merry Mushrooms

4/24/2022

My original color comparison page.

Butter. Canary. Goldenrod. Yellow. Sunshine. Mustard. Gold. So many names describe the color of the enameled stainless steel pots, pans, and slow cookers. But are they different colors, or just names?

While writing A Collector's Guide to Merry Mushrooms, I overly fretted over the colors of Merry Mushrooms pieces, studying, comparing, and digitally sampling colors trying to determine them. What makes it challenging was that colors were seldom named in the catalog. When they were, it was "Yellow" and "Almond," and stranger still only the slow cookers, both round and rectangular, have their colors identified.

In case of the color, all the factors below contribute to the challenge of identifying the colors.

variances in manufacturing
lighting
background material and color
surrounding colors
printing and photographing methods and quality
cleanliness and use of the item

Like many things Merry Mushrooms, it's a fascinating exploration without end or even a satisfactory conclusion. The very kind members of the Mad for Merry Mushrooms group talked sense into me, urging me not to drive myself crazy!

Generally, the porcelain-coated Merry Mushrooms were Gold from 1972 to 1975, Yellow from 1976 through the Spring/Summer and Wish Book of 1980, and Almond from Fall/Winter 1980 to 1982. Things get a little tricky during 1983 to 1985. Items certainly look Yellow but why would they be Almond for a little over a year? On the other hand, maybe the Almond wasn't nearly as successful so Sears decided to return to Yellow. The fact that Almond pieces are harder to come by supports the theory that there were less sold and less survived to today.

Using the slow cookers as a reference point in time and color, I have attempted to hammer out my color conclusions here. Are you ready to take the journey with me? Let's go

Color of Merry Mushrooms porcelain-coated pieces. Click to enlarge.

Slow Cookers

According to the catalogs, the rectangular slow cookers came in two colors: first Yellow, then Almond. Comparing my own slow cooker (#2 below) with those online, the Yellow is quite mustardy, almost gold, not a bright sunny yellow. The last time this piece appears in the 1980 Fall/Winter catalog, it's described as Almond.

Yellow rectangular slow cooker. 1978 Wish Book.

Almond rectangular slow cooker. 1980 Fall/Winter catalog.

Slow cookers #1 and #2 below are both Yellow. A flash was used in the first picture which accounts for the color appearing lighter. Slow cookers #3 and #4 are also both Almond, though the #3 appears almost light yellow. The color of the background is reflecting on the Almond surface. Number 4 looks nearly white due to its surroundings and natural light (a window is reflected on the surface).

1. Yellow.

2. Yellow. From the author's collection.

3. Almond.

4. Almond.

The round slow cookers are also identified as Yellow first (1977- Spring/Summer 1980), then Almond (Fall/Winter 1980-1981).

Yellow round slow cooker. 1977 Wish Book.

Almond round slow cooker. 1980 Fall/Winter catalog.

Tea Kettles

The Merry Mushrooms line had a variety of Tea Kettles in several colors. Whistling Tea Kettles came in Yellow and Almond, while the non-whistling kettles were Gold and Yellow for sure, and maybe Almond or a lighter Yellow.

Catalog pictures of the non-whistling kettle with the curved spout and bent all-wood handle (#5 below) appear to be light Yellow or Almond, but that might be the result of the very different backgrounds used (dark red vs. light brown). Almond would fit the timeline above, however all of this style of kettle online is Yellow.

Looking online, there are kettles that are a lighter yellow than the yellow one in my collection. Compare them below. Both photos are taken in similar light conditions with similar backgrounds though the dark surface on the last one makes the yellow look lighter in comparison. An almond non-whistling tea kettle doesn't seem to exist. If you have one, let me know.

1. Yellow Whistling Tea Kettle.

2. Almond Whistling Tea Kettle.

3. Gold Non-Whistling Tea Kettle.

4. Yellow Non-whistling Tea Kettle. From the author's collection.

5. Yellow Non-whistling Tea Kettle.

Percolators

Percolators came in two colors, first Gold, which is #1 below from my collection, then #2 Yellow. This is another piece that looks like a different color depending on lighting, flash/closeness of flash, and surrounding colors. Checking out the varying views of the same piece on auction sites, it looks a different color in almost every picture.

1. Gold. From the author's collection.

2. Yellow.

Cookware Set: Skillets, Saucepans, Dutch Ovens, and Stock Pots

The porcelain-coated steel with ceramic lining cookware sets include open and covered skillets, covered saucepans, Dutch Ovens, and stock pots. Like the Tea Kettles, cookware was offered in Gold, Yellow, and maybe Almond and, like many other pieces, the colors are subjective.

Finding the set online that appears to be Almond (#1 below) was exciting. Upon closer inspection, however, the straight sides and lid of the top saucepan indicate that these are an early (1972-1974) set which is clearly Gold. Is this really the same very 1970s Gold of the Dutch Oven that I have in my collection? It's hard to believe, but it probably is.

The cookware that appears to be Almond in the catalogs coincides with the dates of the Almond slow cooker.

1. Gold style but appears Pale Yellow.

Yellow Dutch oven.

2. Gold with replacement lid. From the author's collection.

Almond or Yellow Stock Pot and two covered saucepans.

Other Enamelware

These items were available for a short time, so they nestled neatly into one color on the timeline.

The All-Purpose Cooker was only available 1972-1974, firmly in the Gold era.

Though there were two styles of fondue pots, they are very distinct. The Gold fondue pot available in the early 1970s had a base and cover of the same Gold. The later Yellow fondue pot has a brown/yellow graduated cover and matches the style of the other enamelware of the late 1970s.

Finally, the ultra-rare Ice Cooler/Stool is comfortably within the Yellow limits.