Charming, high quality and affordable, Lefton China was founded in Chicago Illinois in 1941 by George Zolton Lefton, an immigrant Hungarian sportswear manufacturer who collected fine china as a hobby.
In 1945, Lefton began importing ceramic giftware and decorative items from all over Asia, and primarily Japan. Occupied Japan (1945-1952) and “Made in Japan” (MIJ) items are quite collectible these days, and the Lefton label has become something of an added bonus.
The bonus for collectors is that the Lefton pieces in their collections often become their favorite pieces, even though they probably paid less for them than any other piece they have.
In fact, while the prices I will quote in this column are book values, actual shop prices these days might be quite a bit less.
Teapot and teacup collectors will find a wide variety of shapes and designs. There are teapots in the English bone china “chintz” style ($125), Victorian, German-style heavy roses ($100), and basketweave majolica ($50).
The Lefton stackable tea set, where the creamer and sugar stack on top of the pot for storage, is a unique addition to any collection, and the one decorated with pretty violets ($200) is quite beautiful.
Lefton’s “Dainty Miss” teapot ($155), features a cartoonish blond country girl with a hat, bowtie, and wide eyes in a sideways glance. All the items in this line seem to be priced a bit higher, probably because it’s so popular.
The best Lefton teacups are the footed ones with heavy floral decoration in the English bone china style, often trimmed with gold and sometimes with reticulated (open work) on the saucer.
Teacup prices are in the $15 to $30 range, or a bit more if the pieces have George Lefton’s signature in script as artist’s mark.
A distinctive Lefton line called “Bloomer Girls” has become quite popular. These are figures of young girls who are all dressed up but showing some of their bloomers under their dresses. These figures range from $50 to $100.
Lefton animal figurines are very good, especially the birds. Where Lefton excels, however, is in their busts of statesmen and composers and in their military uniform collection.
Holiday collectors can usually find some Lefton piece they can’t resist, especially for Christmas. A group of three carolers or angel musicians will be $30-40. A Santa plate is $30 and a Santa mug is about $15.
There also is a whole line of accessories in the “Green Holly” pattern with a deep green, majolica-like glaze dotted with red berries.
The teapot is $85, and the cream and sugar is $50. There is a sleigh-shapes bowl at $65 and a covered candy dish at $35, and lots of other go-withs.
Other collectibles that can be found with the Lefton label are; napkin rings ($10-$15), boxes ($15-$35), wall pockets and head vases ($50-100), egg cups ($15-20), salt and pepper shakers ($15), cookie jars ($75-200), porcelain shoes ($20-40), bells ($10-25), and figural banks ($25-40), among others.
Even if you are not a collector, Lefton produced many things that are wonderfully decorative for the home and useful on the table. Look for the Lefton name on vases, planters, candy dishes, tureens, casseroles, and canister sets.
To learn more about Lefton, read ” Lefton China” by Ruth McCarthy (Schiffer Books, 1998) or contact the Lefton Collectors Society, 1101 Polk Street, Bedford, Iowa 50833 (712-523-2289).
Lefton lighthouses have become so collectible that you can find their collectors’ society on-line at leftonlighthouses.com.
—Arthur Schwerdt, a certified appraiser, is the author of “The Antique Story Book: Finding the Real Value of Old Things,” and co-owner of The August Farmhouse Antiques on Route 9 in Swainton. Send your comments, questions, and appraisal requests to aschwerdt@cmcherald.com.
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