Q: I’m trying to find the value of McKee Glasbake chicken/rooster soup bowls and am having a hard time. I know they are from the 1950s. What can you tell me about them and possible value?

 

A: The McKee Glass Company was formed in Jeannette, Pennsylvania, in 1903. The company introduced Glasbak Ware, a heat resistant glassware able to go “From Oven to Refrigerator,” in 1917. It was advertised as Glasbak (with one “s” and no “e”) Ware until at least 1923. Then it became Glasbake, with an “e” at the end and without “Ware.” McKee became a division of Thatcher Glass Co. in 1951 and was bought by the Jeannette Corporation in 1961. Pieces made by Jeannette usually have the letter “J” and a number on the bottom. Jeannette Corporation closed in the early 1980s. These bowls with chicken heads are the right size for soup or cereal. They were made in a set of four in yellow, blue, green, and black. The fifth bowl in this group doesn’t have a chicken head and is not part of the set. Sets of four sell for about $75.