My collection has mostly grown organically, picking up a piece here and there as I came across them and at an affordable price. Recently, however, it feels like finding Merry Mushrooms in person at antique malls, resale and thrift stores, and rummage and estate sales is becoming more rare - even for the ubiquitous cookie jar and embossed canister. So I've turned to scouring online to find some of the more elusive fungi. First on my list was the ashtray. For some reason, I always thought about collecting ashtrays, even though I don't smoke and rather despise smoking. Vintage ashtrays are so varied, colorful, and funky! It felt right that my first ashtray should be the Merry Mushrooms one, even if I never get another one. This ashtray has some damage - the glaze has cracked so moisture got underneath. But the price was right despite the flaws. It was also identified as a spoon rest, but I knew better. The ashtray became longer halfway through its run; this one is an early ashtray. Next is the pitcher which set includes four small pitchers ranging in size from 2 1/4" to 4" for syrup, cream, or milk. The smaller ones are even more adorable in person with their tiny single black-spotted orange cap mushroom on the front. These pitchers resemble the creamer in the sugar and creamer set, but can be distinguished by the upturned spout that appears more square from the side. The creamer spout curves downward.
Last is the paddle-shaped cheese board which was available in only one catalog in the 1970s. It's oak finished hardwood. This one is in excellent condition so it probably just hung on the wall for decades, which will be where it lives in our home.
Available in one mid-1970s catalog, this was the second Merry Mushrooms slow cooker offered. This one was seen in the wild on eBay.
According to The McCoy Pottery Collector's Society, McCoy was sold to Lancaster Colony Corporation in 1974 and quickly changed all the marks but still used the McCoy name. It is exciting to discover the maker, a fact which isn't listed in the catalog. Makes me wonder if Lancaster Colony Corporation didn't pay Sears to have the brand name listed. Though missing the hot plate, this slow cooker sold for $39.00 plus shipping on July 7, 2020.
None other than the enigmatic Ms. Dana Barrett in the original Ghostbusters (1984) has a 6 quart Merry Mushrooms slow cooker on her kitchen counter! It’s seen as Dana makes dinner and drinks wine, chuckling as she listens to a radio announcer share the exploits of “those guys on tv” on her sweet stereo.
My husband, Nate, and I were watching the movie and I said, "Wait a second" and grabbed the remote. Skipping back, I paused and stood up to get a better look. Nate was confused until I said triumphantly, "There's a Merry Mushrooms slow cooker back there!" Needless to say, her was quite impressed with my vision. If only my hearing were so keen.
How thrilling was it to see these on eBay! Unfortunately for my bank account, the bidding quickly sent the price well over $200.00 at the time of this writing. In any event, it's a treat to see this complete and well cared-for set of 4 mixing bowls. And to find that they are Anchor Hocking Fire King Brand cook ware. Once again, the brand name wasn't included in the catalog so likely the company didn't pay Sears to have it listed.
Interestingly, these oven-proof glass Fire King bowls appear in the same catalog as the Corning Ware and PYREX Saucepans and Skillets, and Corning Ware and PYREX were named in the catalog. UPDATE: The set sold for a whopping $267.99 on July 15, 2020! UPDATE 11/22/2020: Another complete set sold for $185.59 on November 15, 2020. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. Archives
October 2023
Categories
All
|