Rooster Cookie Jars

Cookie jar collectors often have at least one rooster cookie jar in their collection. Why? The answer may be as simple as the feathers on this domestic bird. Roosters are colorful, and there are many species to choose from. Bantam roosters are probably the most popular type of bird portrayed on rooster cookie jars, primarily because their long plumage is very colorful and attractive.

The rooster is a popular theme for cookie jars.

The domestic chicken has a long history in the United States. Chickens provided meat and eggs for the settlers, and they are still a big business for many farmers. It is no wonder these fine-feathered friends are depicted on cookie jars, many of which sit on the counter in farmhouses.

The McCoy vintage rooster cookie jar was first depicted in 1956. This beautiful jar features a small light brown rooster with a red comb and wattles. It appears to be gazing up at the sky, perhaps getting ready to crow.

Today, the rooster motif can be seen in a variety of cookie jars. Clear glass cookie jars with etchings of a rooster are very popular, especially when used at a bed and breakfast establishment. Embossed cookie jars are also currently popular, and they are often painted using primary colors, depicting the rooster on the lids as well as on the sides of the ceramic jars.

Rooster cookie jars can be hard to find, especially if you don't know where to start looking. These elusive jars were very popular in the 1950's and 1960's, so finding one can be difficult. Places to look for vintage finds include:

• Estate sales
• Salvation Army
• Flea markets
• Auctions
• Collector meets
• Antique shops

Places to find vintage as well as new rooster cookie jars on the Internet include:

• CountryRed
• Cookie Jar Junction
• eBay
• Ubid

Another way to learn about cookie jars is to join a cookie jar collecting club. These clubs meet and discuss their hobby. Additionally, you may even meet someone who has some rooster cookie jars they want to sell or trade. Cookie jar collecting clubs can educate collectors about appraising techniques, which is very important when paying large amounts for a vintage cookie jar. Knowing about maker's marks can save you money when purchasing highly collectible items. Collector clubs also assist members in learning how to spot fakes and how to determine the correct value of a cookie jar.

Collector guides, such as item price guides and identification guides are key part of a rooster cookie jar collector's library. Collector guides to help you with this hobby include:

• Collector's Encyclopedia of Cookie Jars by Fred & Herndon Roerig
• An Ilustrated Value Guide to Cookie Jars by Ermagene Westfall
• The Ultimate Collector's Encyclopedia of Cookie Jars by Fred & Joyce Roerig
• Warman's Cookie Jars by Mark Moran
• The Wonderful World of Cookie Jars by Mark & Ellen Supnick

Many of these guides provide color illustrations and photographs, which make it easy to identify cookie jars you may already own, or ones that you are checking out at an auction.

Collecting rooster cookie jars can be a fun hobby, especially if you already have a country home theme. Before you begin collecting, be sure to learn as much about collecting cookie jars as possible. This will help you to learn how to spot fakes, vintage collectibles and correct pricing of cookie jars. Great ways to learn about this hobby are through reading books on the subject and by joining cookie jar collecting clubs.

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