Although diminutive in size, advertising butter pats continue to command top dollars

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 half of 2007 for restaurant ware pats. Keep in mind that the prices do not
include shipping, packing and insurance! Quite impressive numbers for such tiny
pieces!!

Broadway Central Hotel, New York City $26.01

Café Germania $35

Culver Military Academy $182.99

Ford Motor Co. (used in company dining room) $145.42

Green Owl $53

Green Lantern Tea Room $19.85

Hotel Woodcock, Boston $106.27

Lost Spur Ranch $39

Pig 'n Whistle $76

Rod's Steakhouse $46.02

San Francisco Cliff House $109.55

Santa Fe Railroad $89.99

United States Shipping Board $29.99

Wallen's Corned Beef $51

White Tower $46.64

Willard's Hotel $34.77


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.)

In addition, a number of butter pats have been made with big, gaudy railroad logos
applied to bone white china stock. Sometimes additional striping or ornamentation
has been added. Among the railroads represented are the Pennsylvania, Chicago &
Northwestern, Santa Fe, Southern Pacific, Missouri-Kansas-Texas, Missouri Pacific,
Union Pacific and New York Central. These have mostly been made in Taiwan, although
there are reports of domestic production by certain nefarious individuals.

All of these look more like souvenirs than commercial-grade china but may fool a
novice. Some have crackle glazing to make them appear old -- a common "faux-antique"
technique. The savvy shopper should avoid purchasing these fake items. They diminish
the value and beauty of the authentic items in an advertising butter pat collection.

                                                                                                                 Cont'd Part 3   part 1