If you’ve ever been charmed by a whimsical cookie jar sitting on someone’s kitchen counter, chances are McCoy Pottery crafted it. With a long history dating back to the early 20th century, vintage McCoy cookie jars are one of the most sought-after used cookie jars on the market.
Boasting an array of quirky and timeless styles, each McCoy piece brings a unique character and a touch of nostalgia to your kitchen. In this article, we’ll discuss a brief history of McCoy Pottery and share some of our all-time favorite designs.
McCoy Cookie Jar History
The Nelson McCoy Sanitary Stoneware Company was founded in 1910. The company manufactured various pottery pieces out of their facility in Roseville, Ohio, but they didn’t start producing cookie jars until the 1930s. Dozens of cookie jar designs were manufactured until the early 1990s when the company shut down.
Several rare cookie jar examples from McCoy pottery sell for hundreds or thousands of dollars, like this McCoy Stagecoach Cookie Jar that sold for $799 in 2023. However, most cookie jars sell between $30 – $150 when they are a common design and in good condition.
Popular McCoy Cookie Jar Designs
McCoy Green Cookie Jug
1971 – 1978
McCoy Owl Cookie Jar
1974+
McCoy Stove Cookie Jar
1960s
McCoy Smiley Face Cookie Jar
1971
McCoy Yellow Duck Cookie Jar
1964+
McCoy Timmy Tortoise Cookie Jar
1977 – 1980
McCoy Apple Cookie Jar
1950 – 1964
McCoy Brown Drip Cookie Jar
1970 – 1974
McCoy Stonencraft Pink & Blue Striped Cookie Jar
1976+
McCoy Asparagus Cookie Jar
1977 – 1979