Category Archives: California Pottery

California Pottery, Framed Prints, Owl Book Ends, Stewart B McCulloch, Wall Plates

I Love Lucy prop-alikes seen on eBay recently

September 11, 2019 Patricia

Currently on eBay is this vintage Maurice Utrillo print matching the well-known framed picture in the living room of the I Love Lucy set. This one for sale has some damage so read the sellers description for details. See it on eBay :

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Lithograph-by-listed-artist-Maurice-Utrillo-done-early-20th-century/254346467591

Next is a hard to find small Gouda ashtray that matched one used as a small wall plate in the I Love Lucy kitchen. There were a pair of these each side of three larger ones.

A similar small ashtray was later seen on a small side table next to an armchair to the left of the Hollywood apartment set.
See it on eBay
Also on offer is a pair of owl bookends like the bookends I repainted to match the pair on I Love lucy in a previous project:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Vtg-Owl-Bookends-Book-Ends-Heavy-Jade-Green-Gold-Bronze-color-Figurines-8-tall/323661311445

The above items are currently on eBay at the time of writing.
I also spotted this TV lamp with plume design similar to one seen on the I Love Lucy set It was recently sold on eBay however this was the first time I have seen one with a maker mark by Stewart B McCulloch who also made the pair of asian man and woman mantel statues https://www.ebay.com/itm/Vtg-Art-Deco-Stewart-B-McCulloch-California-Pottery-Desk-Lamp-Vase-Black-White-/163828742916

California Pottery, Cruet, Kitchen, Olde Thompson

Olde Thompson Ivy Ceramic piece

February 28, 2017 Patricia

Here is a vintage Olde Thompson Ivy ceramic piece, possibly a planter pot or kitchen container of some sort, from the same collection as the ivy cruet set in Lucy Ricardo’s kitchen. It has the original Olde Thompson sticker still on the base and is approx 4″ by 6″ in size.

Source : http://www.ebay.com/itm/Olde-Thompson-George-S-Thompson-Imperial-Ivy-brand-ceramic-piece-/351992400477

California Pottery, Figurines, I love Lucy Props, Stewart B McCulloch

Pair of Stewart B. McCulloch Asian style Statues on eBay

August 28, 2016 Patricia

These statues by California Pottery artist Stewart B. McCulloch are up for sale on eBay this week. The pair of similar statues on the I Love Lucy mantelpiece are identical in form with differences in the painting – because they were hand painted no two are painted exactly alike. There are variations in the colors used and in the floral patterns on the garments. For fans of the I Love Lucy show they are much sought after, and collectors of the mid-century 50’s era and California pottery will be interested in these.

On the Ricardo’s mantel on the show a pair of these statues were seen throughout most of the series until the Ricardos moved to the country in the final shows.

California Pottery, Figurines, I love Lucy Props, Stewart B McCulloch

Pair of I Love Lucy style Stewart B McCulloch Asian Statues sold on eBay recently

July 23, 2016 Patricia

Vintage Asian style pair of statues by STEWART B McCULLOCH — Vintage Asian style pair of statues by
STEWART B McCULLOCH

I noticed this mid-century pair of 14″ Asian style figurines by Stewart B McCulloch on eBay recently. Unusually, they were listed separately by the same seller. Bidding started at US$98.00 for each statue with a Buy Now option. The Winning bid for the female statue was US$121.50 and the male companion statue sold for a Buy it Now of US$250.00., both were bought by the same seller.
The statues are the same as the pair seen on the mantelpiece on I Love Lucy, except for minor differences, the pair on the show were pink instead of yellow – which we know from pictures of the original – see earlier post – and some differences in the hand painted floral motif on the garment.

California Pottery, Franciscan Ivy, Gladding McBean, I love Lucy Props, Kitchen, Salt & Pepper Shakers

Lucy’s Franciscan Ivy Salt & Pepper Shaker Set

February 28, 2015 Patricia

lucy-desi-franciscan-ivy-shaker-set
Lucy and Desi are frequently seen using their Franciscan Ivy dining set. In the opening scene of “The Freezer” episode Lucy apparently uses the light colored shaker to sprinkle fine sugar on her breakfast grapefruit. The ivy leaf shaped salt and pepper shaker set are easy to spot. The Franciscan Ivy pieces can still be found. The shaker set pictured below is currently on eBay

franciscan-ivy-shaker-set
Click Here to view on eBay
See all Franciscan Ivy on eBay

50s Retro, California Pottery, I love Lucy Props

Lucy’s TV planter lamp

December 13, 2014 Patricia

Mid Century Planter TV Lamp stamped Stewart B McCulloch California Pottery just like the one on I Love Lucy available for sale on Etsy Click Here for details
A planter lamp just like this one was used as a planter on the shelf next to the kitchen, as seen in the screen capture below, in most of episodes of I Love Lucy, until they moved to the country. tvv lamp planter on i love lucy

Read more details about this piece on my Previous post: I love Lucy Ricardo’s Pottery Planters

50s Retro, California Pottery, Figurines, I love Lucy Props

Lucy’s Rooster Figurine

November 11, 2014 Patricia

Lucy’s Rooster figurine is seen in various places from the livingroom, to the kitchen and in Ethel’s livingroom after she gets the Ricardo’s old furniture.
roosterfigure
The Rooster uses a similar mold to the rooster of a Kay Finch rooster and hen pair of chickens called BUTCH n BIDDY. The Rooster & Hen figurines were a popular California pottery set hand painted in various patterns. However the pair I have seen that most closely matches the paint pattern of the rooster on the show does not have the “Kay Finch” signature on the base, it signed M. K.

The rooster figurine above is one that resembles the painted pattern seen in the screen shots from the show. This pair is black and white has the initials M.K. on the base. The Hen measures about 5″ by 5″ and the Rooster is about 9″ tall by 4″ wide.

I have seen a similar mold in use under other marks as well. The distinctive rooster tail design makes it easy to identify. The coloring and angle of the rooster tail matches the characteristics of the Japanese Mottled Bantam. (This may or may not be a clue that it was made in Japan)

This pair was found on Etsy View details here.
Find more like this on eBay
Reference:
http://www.aboutbantamchickens.com/bantam-chickens-japanese-bantams-luxury-feathered-lap-dog-of-the-aristocrats/

Brock of California, California Pottery, I love Lucy Props, Kitchen, Recipes

Lucy and Ricky’s Brock Coddled Egg Cups

November 5, 2014 Patricia

In an early I Love Lucy episode entitled ‘Be a Pal’ Lucy and Ricky are having coddled eggs for breakfast. The egg cup is double sided and large enough to make coddled eggs on the top side and to hold a standard boiled egg on the smaller side. The maker is Brock of California and the design seen on the show is called Harvest with a yellow top edge. They are also seen on the kitchen shelves in several episodes.

Brock of California Egg Cup Coddlers seen on eBay

Brock of California was founded in 1947 by Bert J Brock and closed down in 1980. The company designed a limited number of dinnerware patterns in the 40’s and 50’s that are popular with collectors today. Brock of California were known for their charming country style designs and the Harvest design can be still be found on eBay and Etsy with either brown or yellow edges. Search for “Brock California” for a current selection.

Recipe: Coddled Eggs

Coddled eggs are made by Continue reading Lucy and Ricky’s Brock Coddled Egg Cups →

California Pottery, Figurines, I love lucy, I love Lucy Props, Stewart B McCulloch

Another look at Lucy’s Asian Statue

October 19, 2014 Patricia 11 Comments

Comparison of recently sold prop to I love lucy screenshot of same item.

Here we have an interesting side by side comparison of a photo of the Asian statue prop that was sold at auction last year for $24,000, next to a screen capture from an I Love Lucy episode showing the Asian statue prop in use in that episode.

The auction picture is from the Premier Props auction and shows the recent condition of the figurine with obvious staining and markings.

At first glance the painting of face and the cursive black details on the borders of the kimono appear to be a match although the b/w screen capture is blurred, this is significant because each statue was hand painted and therefore slightly different. Continue reading Another look at Lucy’s Asian Statue →

California Pottery, Figurines, I love lucy, I love Lucy Props, Restoration Project, Stewart B McCulloch

Project: I love Lucy Asian Statue Repaint

October 19, 2014 Patricia

Asian statues on mantelpiece of I Love Lucy

I have a pair of Asian man and woman statues similar to the pair of Asian statues on the mantelpiece of I love Lucy, however the colors are quite different from the pair on the show. I decided to try to repaint them to look like the I love Lucy set. I could use a special paint for use on porcelain that I saw at Dick Blick’s, and which can be baked on. However I decided on an ordinary acrylic paint because it will get the look I want and can be scrubbed off again to preserve the original statues as they were. Here is how they looked.

asianpairstatues — Asian Statues Before Repainting

Continue reading Project: I love Lucy Asian Statue Repaint →

50slucy.com