We write about the things we learn researching vintage all the time, and this week’s fresh to market vintage was no exception. We’d never heard of Monterey Jade pottery or Gebrüder Heubach pottery, but now we know them. But we don’t know who Maria Wheeler is. And we certainly don’t know what it was like to exercise your teeth and jaws with Dr. Johnson’s Educator Biscuits. The things we don’t know are stacking up this week…

…but one thing we do know is that these are this week’s fresh to market vintage picks.

Maria Wheeler Bear Collection

This charming group of very small handmade bears are the creations of Maria Wheeler. Here’s the problem…I can’t find anything about her online! Usually I can find something about an item or artisan. Was she local? Did she sell her bears at craft shows only? I am sad that I cannot learn about her because every maker has a story to tell. These are 3″ high and under and I can’t believe the detail and scale she worked in. I would not be surprised to know that she created some of the tiny accessories as well. You can see her personality on display, but her history is a mystery!

Maria Wheeler Handmade Bears, $89.99

-Mary Ellen, AuntHattiesAttic

Monterey Jade Pottery Small Jar

Somehow until now, I had never heard of Monterey Jade pottery. Monterey Bay is one of my favorite places in the world and it’s quite fitting that this beautiful pottery was made to emulate the rare jade stone found there. The soft blues and greens speak of the colors found in both the landscape and the sea, which is a perfect depiction of the area. Made between the 1940s and 1960s, this gorgeous pottery has become collectible. I can see why, it’s beautiful and comes from one of the most breathtaking parts of the world.

Small Monterey Jade Pot, $28.95

-Pam, Vintage Renude

Dr. Johnson EDUCATOR Crackers tin c. 1920s

Another example of American ingenuity – a decorative vintage store tin that once held a variety of crackers marketed as “exercise for the teeth and jaws.” Dr. Johnson was a crusading dentist in Boston in the 1880s who was convinced his patients’ teeth were being ruined by a lack of chewing hard food. You can enjoy the fascinating history behind the EDUCATOR biscuits he invented and the company his enterprising daughter built to distribute them.

Vintage Cracker Tin, Boston MA, $60

Gebrüder Heubach Porcelain Duck

The German pottery Gebrüder Heubach has a long and somewhat convoluted history involving sales and mergers and other such things starting way back in 1840 until the 1990s. They are known primarily for their piano babies and doll heads. But they are also responsible for this duck. The quality is lovely, like a Lladro. I’d never seen the pottery mark, and it took a while to find because it’s only letters and…well, let me show you.

Gebrüder Heubach Porcelain Duck, $90.

–Laurie, NextStage Vintage

That’s this week’s fresh to market vintage. Those little Maria Wheeler bears are a whole lot sweeter than Dr. Johnson’s biscuits probably were. Another thing that’s sweet is subscribing to our blog. You won’t miss a single post and you’ll only hear from us once a week. That’s a sweet deal!

If you like researching vintage, you might enjoy our post on researching vintage, antique and collectable items. Do add a comment if you have ideas to share with the vintage loving community.