what kind of pottery jar is this ?

Who buys chia items like these? Does anybody collect them?

 

They must given the TV advertising that's playing now. That and "The Clapper" always make a Christmas season appearance.

 

hi inh

be nice if it was !, funny you should say that, as i did think it myself.

the stubby cigar and bow tie are very close

 

Face doesn't look anything like Churchill to me.

 

Not with that devilish hairline and attitude... a rake, a rogue, raffish. That porcelain piece is really wonderful and really does seem to be modeled after a well-known character and the terra cotta piece does appear to be modeled after him.

Reminds me of Charles Keating's character, Rex, from Brideshhead Revisited.



Anyhoo - here's another, older seed head from etsy. So they've been around for a bit longer than I ever thought: Vintage Chia Seed Planter ~ 1940s World War 2 Era, Elmer Version, Smiling Soldier.

To quote the listing: This is the most awesome find ever!

 

These were extremely popular in the late 60s and into the 70s because people actually ate those sprouts - that was my impression, anyway. Not a sprout eater myself, so I was kind of mystified by the whole fad.

Maybe they were just ornamental earlier?

 

found this one from devon watcombe pottery

https://www.worthpoint.com/worthopedia/unusual-vintage-watcombe-torquay-ware-245852407

 

The original chia posted might be a character called "Jiggs". Maggie and Jiggs was a comic strip in the 1930's.

The following is from Morton Potteries: 99 Years, Volume II by the Halls, pg. 242-243.

"In 1933, grass growers were sold to retailer for $1.14 a dozen. Their popularity swept the United States during the Great Depression because they were affordable. The figures were packed two dozen of one design to a carton. A packet of seeds, with instructions, was supplied with each figure. In 1933, a Santa Fe box car was loaded with 38,000 Paddy O'Hair heads, consigned to FW Woolworth Company's Manhattan District stores. In the 1934, the pottery was producing 4,000 Jiggs head a day. Grass growers were made until the 1970's. There should be an abundance of them waiting to be found."

The Jiggs featured above does not look exactly like Morton's version but the soldier does match the Morton version. Other companies are still producing these as chia pets. Just the other day I saw a commercial where you could buy all four of the Golden Girls as chia pets. I threw up in my mouth a little. I watch too much TV.
Don