Tag Archives: California Pottery

Lucy’s Rooster Figurine

Lucy's Rooster Figurine
Lucy’s Rooster Figurine

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.

rooster
Rooster figurine  in pattern similar to Lucy’ seen on eBay

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.

M. K. signature on base.
M. K. signature on base.

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)

kayfinchrooster
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/

The Mertzes in Newport: Florence Ceramics Charmaine

Florence Ceramics Figurine Charmaine in the  Merts apartment at Ricardos Newport home
Florence Ceramics Figurine Charmaine in the Merts apartment at Ricardos Newport home

When the fictional Fred and Ethel Mertz moved to Newport they lived in an apartment on the Ricardo’s property. On the mantelpiece behind Desi Arnaz on the set of the Mertzs’ apartment we can see a Florence Ceramics (Pasadena, Ca) figurine “Charmaine”.
I have seen versions of the Charmaine figurine in green and pink. Continue reading The Mertzes in Newport: Florence Ceramics Charmaine

Lucy & Ethel’s Metlox Watering Can

METLOX POPPYTRAIL BLUE HOMESTEAD PROVINCIAL WATERING CAN1
METLOX POPPYTRAIL BLUE HOMESTEAD PROVINCIAL WATERING CAN
METLOX POPPYTRAIL WATERING CAN at Ricardos Newport home
METLOX POPPYTRAIL Homestead watering can has a different decal on each side – seen here on the set of Lucy’s Newport home

The METLOX POPPYTRAIL BLUE HOMESTEAD PROVINCIAL WATERING CAN is another prop that pops up here and there on the I love Lucy set  First it goes from Lucy’s apartment to Ethel’s when Lucy gets her new furniture and gives her old stuff to Ethel, and then back to the Ricardo’s new home when they move to the country. Continue reading Lucy & Ethel’s Metlox Watering Can

The Ricardo’s Sierra-Columbia Planter

lucyplanter The Ricardo’s set also had a Sierra-Columbia planter. The one indicated in the screen capture above from an “I Love Lucy” episode is a typical design from Sierra-Columbia of Pasadena California. The design seen above is a ceramic planter inside a brass effect metal holder. An interesting thing about the metal holder is that it  was recycled leftover metal from their scissors manufacturing. Continue reading The Ricardo’s Sierra-Columbia Planter

I love Lucy Ricardo’s Pottery Planters

Planter on I love lucy The Planter props seen on the set of “I love Lucy” on the mantelpiece and on the ledge of the hutch between the kitchen and living room are frequently seen in the background in dialog scenes.

The pieces I have identified were sourced locally from California Pottery makers. The Stewart B McCulloch plume design planter is one that often caught my eye, an example of which is pictured below in green. Continue reading I love Lucy Ricardo’s Pottery Planters