Oh Boy McCoy: Amazing Pottery and Where I Find It!

Oh Boy McCoy! Now the average Joe might not know what all the excitement is about. But you can bet that any LOVER of vintage will know exactly why I shout it from the rooftops every time I discover a piece! What can I say… it speaks to me! I love the beautiful pastel glaze colors, the fun functional styles, and its timelessness! I’ve been collecting for years and I still get overcome with glee when I see a new piece I haven’t seen before. But these days it’s been harder to find. When I first started collecting over 20 years ago I found it everywhere… now I really have to keep my eyes peeled. So let me explain what all the fuss is about…why McCoy is such amazing pottery and where I find it!

Last year I wrote a post on the wonderful vintage pottery of McCoy, and in doing so I realized how incredibly popular it is now! People request it from me all the time, and to be honest it can be rather pricey. As a dealer, it can be hard to keep up with the demand in an affordable way. The good news is there is always the potential to find McCoy out there. And, it sure makes it thrilling and worth the hunt when you do find some! You just have to know where to look. In the last few weeks, I have found pieces at garage sales, auctions, online retailers, antique shops, flea markets, and even thrift stores.

Antique shops

One of my favorite things to do is shop at antique malls. I can always find some good deals. This spring green vase really filled me with cheer… it is definitely going to be added to my personal collection!

auctions

Online auctions can surprise you sometimes! If you buy multiple items in a larger lot you would be amazed at the affordability of each piece. This gorgeous vase was only $10!

This 1920’s stoneware mixing bowl is only 5 inches. We purchased it in a larger LOT of ceramics. It was unmarked in the photos so we weren’t entirely sure what it was. It wasn’t until we got it home and saw a faint marking that we realized it was actually early McCoy! What a LUCKY day!

flea market

My aqua blue McCoy swan vase from the 1940s really stole my heart! It’s in perfect condition and at $20.00 it was a GREAT bargain because they typically go for 50 bucks!

online

I LOVE this little guy! I always wanted a McCoy frog and lotus. We made a lower offer on eBay and were able to strike a real deal.

thrift store

And, YES… you can actually find McCoy at a thrift shop!! I found this beautiful Blossom Time vase just sitting on the bottom shelf at my local second-hand store. I’m not going to lie… it actually stunned me! I felt like I was in a dream! I snatched it quickly and at $5.99 I was smiling all the way home!

garage sale

Did you know that at the end of estate and garage sales, the sellers will usually give you a bundle deal? This pretty piece was marked “Floraline” on the bottom… so I knew it was the “Real McCoy”! And, in the end I bought it for a song… $2! Beat that!

“Oh Boy McCoy” has become my mantra these past several years! It’s gorgeous and practical and colorful. It’s everything I LOVE about VINTAGE! In fact, I feel like I’m on a mission to spread the word of the pure JOY of McCoy! And even though it’s getting trickier to hunt down, have no fear… it’s still out there! I won’t give up and neither should you! So, let’s start searching! Let’s bring McCoy Joy into our decor! And, let’s get HOMEY!

• Please check out my Homey Blue Heron Store on eBay for great vintage finds, including some wonderful vintage vases!  Thanks!
• Please visit the  “Shop – My Amazon Favorites” tab for a collection of some of my all-time favorite Amazon purchases.  I am an Amazon Affiliate and any purchases you make will help support my blog! (paid links).
• The more I collect McCoy the more I want to learn about it!! A couple of my favorite books on McCoy are this reference book as well as this portable illustrated guide (paid links).
• If you are in the area, please come see my booth (#252) at the Ohio Valley Antique Mall.
• If you enjoyed this post, see my earlier article, “McCoy Pottery So Cheerful and So Special: I Love It!“