February 2014 Newsletter

Shirley Temple Black -The Child Actress

Shirley Temple was the epitome of child stars in the depression era, born April 23, 1928, she began her film career in 1932 at the tender age of three, starring in some of the most watched films of the era, popular among adults and children alike, Shirley became an advertising icon before retiring from films in 1950 at the age of 22. She was the top box-office draw four years in a row (1935–38). The likability of this child star made her an obvious choice for advertisers. The General Mills Company contracted with Hazel Atlas Glass to produce a breakfast set that would appeal to children while promoting their products to homemakers and mothers. The result is what we know today as the Hazel Atlas Shirley Temple breakfast set.

The popularity of Shirley Temple will likely live on for decades after her death (February 10, 2014), not only in films (she ranks 18th on the American Film Institute's list of the greatest female American screen legends of all time), but in the collections of those who adore her. From glass to dolls to advertising collectors, and even a popular non-alcoholic drink named after her, there is enough Shirley Temple memorabilia to keep her image alive for decades.

For those that enjoy collecting this type of memorabilia, read on about the glassware that featured a lovable child star during the hardest economic times of our nation. The breakfast sets were marketed through General Mills and sold by stores. The mug was the primary giveaway, for purchasing a box of Bisquick, while the cereal bowl and milk pitcher were available for purchase from stores or through the mail.

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Odd and Rare Pieces in Shirley Temple Glass

There are only three known shapes in the Hazel Atlas Glass production of Shirley Temple ware. They are a cereal bowl with honeycomb pattern, a milk pitcher and a mug. Although there are some variations in these pieces, these three pieces are the only originals. The screen decal will be found with and without a Shirley Temple signature and sometimes with 'Hello Everybody'. These are all common pieces in the Hazel Atlas Shirley Temple production.

The rarest piece is a white platonite mug with a blue decal of Shirley Temple. I owned and sold this piece about 10 years ago for $125 at an Antique show to a collector. It is possible there are more of this mug out there, however, I have not seen any since. If you find any platonite pieces with Shirley Temple, it is definitely a rare piece.

Other than the pieces listed here, anything else is a fantasy piece and is not rare! Be cautious, especially now with the recent passing of Shirley Temple, as the market may become flooded with pieces.

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Reproductions and Fantasy Pieces

If you find a piece other than what is listed so far, (cereal bowl, child's mug, milk pitcher) it is a fantasy piece. Hazel Atlas did not produce salt and peppers, shot glasses, plates, creamers and sugars, butterdishes, marbles, pin tray, vases or any other piece you may see on the market. All of those pieces are MODERN, produced in the last 15 years. Be aware of what is an original and what is a fantasy piece. Especially now, since Shirley Temple's death, unscrupulous marketers will attempt to capitalize on the RARE finds they are selling..

Fantasy pieces are pieces that were not originally produced by the manufacturer, but are made to appear as though they are original. You may find a variety of pieces that bear the Shirley Temple image on blue glass, and if you like them as a new collectible that is fine. However, do not purchase them believing it is old, original, or rare. New collectible pieces are readily available in the $5-$7 range.

Price Trends and Values

*Please note: prices quoted are retail prices, if you are selling to a dealer, you should expect at least 30% less


Prices for the known Shirley Temple pieces had fallen off in the early 2000's with an onslaught of reproductions and fantasy pieces. The milk pitcher is harder to find than the mug and the cereal bowl is harder to find than either other piece. The cereal bowl is steady at $35-$40 over the last decade while the milk pitcher is in the $30-$35 range. The mug, being the most common, is easily found in the $25 price range. These prices reflect near mint glass and a strong decal. If the decal is discolored, worn, scratched or otherwise not perfect, it definitely has a reflection on the price.

Purchasing pieces through the internet, you should use caution and make sure you are getting a quality decal, with excellent to mint glass. Because of the recent passing of Shirley Temple, I expect there will be a price increase over the next few months and prices will stabilize thereafter. However, the supply of Shirley Temple wares will also be high, since sellers will expect better prices, they will bring out their slow-moving stock to sell at peak prices.

I do not expect any price increase will hold value for long, so if you are purchasing, buy accordingly. If you are selling, do not expect a windfall! The stated prices above are the average prices prior to Shirley Temple's death, I believe these prices will hold steady with no remarkable increase over the next several months.

Visit our facebook page at Hazel Atlas Glass Collectors and tell us your story about your Shirley Temple Glassware!

Spot The Fake Shirley Temple

The fake Shirley Temple pieces are bound to come crawling out of the woodwork now with the passing of the lovable child actress, so be aware of what you are buying! If you purchase a fantasy, fake or reproduction, make sure you are paying the appropriate price. Most of the reproduction pieces sell for $5 wholesale and are easily available through several importers on the east coast. You should never pay more than you would if you were merely buying a piece of glass giftware.

One of the first and most important considerations is the transfer decal that is on the fakes. It will appear a bright white and lack the screen printing detail of an original. The original's were screen decals fired on the glass, and therefore have a more 'grainy' appearance. What this means is that you will notice what appears to be a faded look, with some transparency through the glass. The decal is NOT solid opaque! In the original look for fine detail, especially in her ringlets of hair. The copies are washed out, little fine detail is noticeable.

The second feature to notice is the glass itself. The blue glass should be a well formed mold piece with smooth mold lines. Jagged or rough mold lines are an indication the piece is not authentic. The color of the glass should have a medium blue hue, it should not be a heavy dark blue. Hazel Atlas referred to this glass as sapphire blue, so if you see a heavy dark blue, it is probably fake. The weight should not feel overly heavy, if there is 'extra glass' in the bottoms or the piece feels heavy, this likely indicates a reproduction.

Finally, the third way to spot a fake is in the known shapes of pieces produced by Hazel Atlas. There are only three known shapes, they are a 5 1/2" cereal bowl with honeycomb pattern, a milk pitcher and a mug. Any other piece is a fake, reproduction or fantasy piece. However, there is one rare piece, it is a white platonite mug with Shirley Temple in a blue decal (reverse of the original blue glass with white decal). There are few known pieces of this style and was likely a test run. If found the price range is $125 and up.