Fiesta Kitchen Kraft label. Image from thepotterypapers.blogspot.com
CLICK HERE FOR PART SEVEN
For part eight of Driving for Deco’s series on Fiesta Kitchen Kraft, we will look at the covered jars. While these are commonly called cookie jars, Homer Laughlin never specified their purpose. These jars are some, if not the most desirable item in the Kitchen Kraft line on today’s collector’s market.
The three sizes of Fiesta Kitchen Kraft Jars. Large yellow jar, medium red jar and small green jar. Image from vintageamericanpottery.com.
Covered Jars
Dates of Production: 1938 – 1944
Available colors: red, blue, green, yellow
Large Covered Jar original price: blue, yellow, green $1.50 ($29.04 in 2021); red $2.00 ($38.72 in 2021).
Medium Covered Jar original price: blue, yellow, green $1.25 ($24.52 in 2021); red $1.50 ($29.04 in 2021).
Small Covered Jar original price: blue, yellow, green $1.00 ($19.62 in 2021); red $1.35 ($26.48 in 2021).
Large Covered Jar, blue (cobalt) showing lid detail with intact paper label. Image from wothpoint.com.
Underside of the medium covered jar showing the impressed Fiesta Kitchen Kraft mark. Image from vintageamericanpottery.com.
The three Fiesta Kitchen Kraft covered jars make a colorful statement in any vintage kitchen. Unfortunately they are not easy to find. And when found the price is usually high, especially if its in excellent condition. The covered jars were also part of the Kitchen Kraft line with a white or ivory glaze and decorated with decals. These are easier to find than the Fiesta kitchen Kraft jar. And although it’s a rare occurrence, covered jars sometimes show up at thrift stores. Chris found a small cobalt blue jar at his local Goodwill this past summer for only a few dollars. The issue with it is that it is missing its lid. Now we’re on the hunt for one, but it will be very difficult to find.
Showing the lid detail of the covered jar, featuring the Mexicana decal. From the collection of the author.
Another Frederick Rhead design, the large jar was the first to be modeled in April of 1937. After a couple of revision, one of which featured handles, the final design (sans handles) was chosen. The following month the two smaller jars were designed. And except for their size they are exactly the same as the large version. Like most Fiesta Kitchen Kraft items, production of the covered jars began in December of 1937 and reached stores by the spring of 1938.
Size comparison of the large covered jar to the size of 12 oz. soda can. Image from bigalsauction.com.
A design flaw of the lid, was not undercutting the knob. The straight sided knob is difficult to grasp (especially on the large jar) and is prone to slipping. As a result many jars have damage to the lid and the inside rim of the body.
Typical damage found on Fiesta Kitchen Kraft covered jars is the chipping of the inside rim. Image from worthpoint.com.
Chip to the underside of the lid. Another example of the typical damage found on the Fiesta Kitchen Kraft covered jars. Image from ebay.com.
Hairline cracks to the body of the jar is another example of damage to look out for when purchasing one.
Example of a hairline crack to the body of the covered jar and a rim chip. Image from bigalsauction.com.
Of course any damage affects the value of the item, but these jars are so scarce that even with some damage they still command relatively high prices, usually between $100.00 and $150.00. In excellent condition the Fiesta Kitchen Kraft covered jar will sell around three to four times more than its Kitchen Kraft counter part with decals.
* 12/31/2021 Update
Long time Fiesta collector, John Waugh, contacted us inquiring about the Fiesta Kitchen Kraft jar lid vs. the Kitchen Kraft jar lid. Mr. Waugh brought to our attention that the book Fiesta, Harlequin, Kitchen Kraft Dinnerwares mentions a revision to the lid and knob:
There are no modeling log entries documenting the various changes made to the lids, but sometime during production of the Fiesta Kitchen Kraft covered jars the knobs of the covers were modified. The earliest versions had straight sides, like the covered jug lids, and were very difficult to grasp. Later versions are smaller and were finished by hand, the knob being undercut and smoothed to create a place for fingers to grip when lifting the lid. – Pg. 211
While the Fiesta Kitchen Kraft covered jars we have in our collection all have the original straight sided knobs. But the Kitchen Kraft jar that we have is the revised version. Here are a couple photos to shows the difference between the two lids.
The top of the Kitchen Kraft Covered Jar lid with the undercut knob vs. the Fiesta Kitchen Kraft Covered Jar lid with the straight sided knob. From the collection of the author.
The underside of the llds, showing how much deeper the Fiesta Kitchen Kraft lid compared to the revised Kitchen Kraft lid. From the collection of the author.
Small, medium and large Fiesta Kitchen Kraft covered jars. Image from vintageamericanpottery.com.
Small Covered Jar: Book value: $305.00 – $350.00**. Current market prices: $199.50 blue (ebay); $265.00 red (ebay); $196.50 green (ebay). ***
Medium Covered Jar: . Book value: $280.00 – $320.00. Current market prices: $249.00 blue (etsy).
Large Covered Jar: Book value: $310.00 – $375.00. Current market prices: $239.00 green (ebay); $385.00 blue (Vintage American Pottery) .
** Book values come from Fiesta, Harlequin, Kitchen Kraft Dinnerwares, Schiffer Publishing 2000. These reflect pre-2008 recession values. And like Fiesta values items glazed in red and cobalt have higher values than those same pieces glazed in yellow and green.
*** These prices reflect what these bowls are currently selling for online in excellent condition with no chips or cracks. Intact paper labels increases the value of pieces up to 25%.
Since the Kitchen Kraft Mexicana covered jar is in your possession, could you add photos of the underside of that lid, as well as an angled shot so as to be able to inspect/compare the lid knob to the Fiesta Kitchen Kraft versions. It appears that lid is ever so slightly smaller and thus sits lower in that jar, and also that the knob on it DOES have some undercutting thereby increasing it’s usability. The so called “bible” (published by the HLCCA) in the article text accompanying the jars states that these knobs were redesigned, but I have never seen a redesigned Fiesta Kitchen Kraft knob, and the few other collectors I’ve asked, have also never seen a redesigned knob on the Fiesta Ktichen Kraft jars. All the Fiesta versions we’ve seen have the straight sided knobs which ARE very difficult to pick up securely, even by an experienced collector! I almost always will use two hands to grasp it, which of course impacts their functionality and ease of use!
I do have two styles of lids, on the underside, but their knobs are the same straight sided versions. I’ll send you a comparison pic if you’d like.
John
I believe I have one of these fiesta kitchen kraft jars. No lid. I can’t find one with the same design as mine nor the same markings. Mine is stamped AND impressed.
I’d love to learn more about it!
Hello Shawna,
Chris and I would like to help you figure out what you have. If you could email some pics or tell us what the stamp says, we could try to solve the mystery of your jar.
All the best,
Anthony