Vintage "Tat-L-Tale" Ceramic Cookie Jar by Hutula
Updated August 6, 2026
This auction ended on August 8, 2026.
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| Lot number | 84 |
| Estimate | 85.00 - 200.00 USD |
| Auction | 98 Pony Road Estate Auction |
| Date | August 8, 2026 at 12:00 PM MDT |
| Auction house | North American Auction Company |
| Location | Bozeman, Montana |
Featured in this lot is this Vintage "Tat-L-Tale" Ceramic Cookie Jar by Helen Hutula circa 1940's. pottery artist Helen Hutula in Los Angeles. Hand-painted with delicate floral patterns and vibrant purple trim, it features a whimsical figure with a startled, wide-mouthed expression. What makes this jar uniquely famous is its built-in, friction-activated mechanical voice box designed to emit a loud "Ma-Ma!" sound whenever the lid was lifted, alerting mothers to potential cookie thieves. Because these early sound mechanisms were prone to breaking and production was short-lived, surviving jars with both the mechanism intact and the fragile ceramic details undamaged are exceptionally rare. The cookie jar is sold as is.
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