After years of collecting Hazel Atlas milk glass tumblers and mugs (Spacemen, Circus series, Indians, Ranger Joe, etc.) I finally scored the holy grail: a complete set of clown tumblers WITH ta-daaaaa the Clown Cooky Jar, in perfect condition!
1940’s Hazel Atlas Clown Cookie Jar & 6 Milk Glass Tumblers
Submitted by Julie Brumlik
December 26th, 2009
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Allee Willis
This is the most gorgeous set of glasses and cookie jar ever! The color palette is exquisite, the way the color is applied is fantastic and to have a complete set of six glasses to go along with the cookie jar is to die for. They look more 1950’s to me because of the graphic style and colors but whether 40s, 50s or from the 17th Century it’s a beyond fantastic set.
Defining this as Kitsch really exemplifies how my definition of the genre varies from the traditional one. This set is nostalgic, whimsical and uplifting. There’s nothing off, distasteful or gaudy about it but it inspires a smile and a connection back to a wonderful and na√Øve time in pop culture and resonates with one no matter when they were born because of the spirit of the product.
denny
Reminds me of the days back in Philly when we would all pile into the car and head off to the circus. I was always very fond of the ladies with dancing dogs and frilly outfits and the monkeys that rode on the backs of the horses! Thanks for posting this! It took me right back!
Mark Milligan
This is spectacular in my opinion. Is the cookie jar glass too, or is it tin?
Julie Brumlik
Mark, the cookie jar is tin. You think they made it in one of those prisons where they manufactured license plates?
Mark Milligan
Yes, the first one was made for “Cookies the Clown,” for his car, then they kept the template and converted to manufacturing these. It’s all in the history channel’s documentary “Hazel Atlas:the Creative Criminal.”
Allee Willis
I had no idea that the documentary even existed. Must track down!
Mark Milligan
Okay my imagination ran a little wild this morning after my second cup of coffee but I thought that Julie’s prison reference was too funny!
I also remember Atlas canning jars in Grandma’s cellar when I was a kid, which of course were either manufactured by Hazel-Atlas, or Atlas, which was a stand alone company before they merged.
Julie Brumlik
Damn, I wanted that documentary to exist! but I found this memory by the manufacturer’s son (channeled by Amy Scattergood):
http://www.amyscattergood.com/poetry/hazelatlas-glass-factory/
Mark, thanks for the giggles.