Advertising Miniatures -Part 2 

part 1

by Mary Dessoie


Just Look at These Prices!

They are generally only three inches in diameter but you would not believe the prices that tiny advertising butter pats are commanding at the eBay auction site. Collectors know that heavy- gauge vintage restaurant ware pats that are top marked are rare and costly items. Here are some prices realized at eBay auctions during the first quarter of 2009 for restaurant ware pats. Keep in mind that the prices do not include shipping, packing and insurance! Quite impressive numbers for such tiny pieces!!

Borden’s Elsie $33.00

Boston City Hospital $38.00

Court Café $20.45

Ellis Drive-In $48.00

Gateway Inn $12.59

Goetz Brewery $28.55

Gulais Drive-In $57.55

Hot Lake Springs Hotel $114.49

Hotel Bannock $202.50

Hotel Grunwald $76.30

Keeler’s State Street $15.00

Missouri Pacific Railroad $194.27

Steak ‘n Shake $53.09

Thompson’s Restaurant $46.00

United States Naval Academy $21.00

West Point Prep $16.30

YMCA $14.49

Reproductions and Fantasy Items

When antiques or collectibles are "hot" and in demand by the buying public, reproductions in massive quantities are sure to flood the marketplace. The china trail for fake advertising butter pats can be traced directly to China, known for generating a great variety of reproductions.

Fantasy sets (china items that were never made years ago) being represented as vintage pieces are now appearing on eBay and elsewhere. These sets (butter pat, individual creamer and mustard jar) are new items that bear the likeness of Aunt Jemima or The Chicken In The Rough (a multi-colored chicken with a cigar holding a golf club.)  Cont'd Part 3 part 1