2nd Generation display stand by Don from 1997, numbered and signed.
Water Pitcher 1st generation
Miniature Santa
Water Pitcher 2nd Generation
The purpose of this website is to provide a pictorial guide on the identification of Twin Winton Figurines and Pottery.
My name is Jerry Whetstine and I live in Lake Chelan, WA. My wife Kathy and I have been collecting Twin Winton for the past 20 plus years. Our collection consists of over 600 figurines. We personally knew Don Winton and bought many Twin Winton pieces from his personal collection. He sold us these rare pieces and gave us his blessing to help preserve his legacy. It is the main reason why this website was created and the other reason is the absolute love we have for his figurines. The collection also includes the largest known collection of the "Children Album Figurines". Many were bought directly from Don's personal collection and are very rare. Many pictures featured in the "Don Winton Designs Book'' by Michael Ellis are from our personal collection. Please check out the book for a insightful history of Don Winton and the Twin Winton Co.
This web site is going to help identify Twin Winton Figurines that are unmarked. Many pieces of Twin Winton were not marked from the factory and many pieces were copied by other California pottery companies and are very hard to distinguish from Twin Winton.
I would like to network with other Twin Winton Collectors and share information, pictures, and stories. All you Twin Winton collectors out there, please contact me and let me know who you are. If anybody has a figurine that they suspect is a unmarked Twin Winton figurine or wants information on any figurine, please feel free to contact me. If anybody has Twin Winton figurines that are not pictured here, please send pictures to me and I will post them on the website with your permission.
The website will continually be updated as new pictures and information is received.
Very first woman Hillbilly mug.
Twinton Minatures 2 3/4" tall.
Deer
Courtesy of Scott & Vicky Wolff
Norma Winton
Bank
Rabbit and Hare courtesy Rick Willis
Honey Jar
Yogie Bear
Miniature
T-14
2nd Generation Pretzel Bowl
Elf on Mushroom Courtesy Rick Willis
Miniatures
One of a kind set Hillbilly mugs.
Monk Figurine 12 inches
Sculpture of St. Simeon holding Baby Jesus courtesy of C.S.
Candy Dish
Holding the very same Racoon's that Don Winton is holding.
Children's Album Figurines by Twin Winton Circa 1950
Don Winton and his TWIN WINTON FIGURINES
Lamp
Huckleberry Hound
Pretzel Dish
Dip Bowl
Ash Tray
Fox courtesy Rick Willis
Michael Ellis Don Winton
This is the byline from a 1950 L.A.Times describing the Childrens' Album Figurines
Courtesy of David Beavert
Coffee Cup
T-18
Santa plate 1950
Assorted Cats
Black & white cats pre war colored cats post war
Jerry Whetstine
Rabbit with a Cart
Courtesy of David Beavert
Very rare yellow cat courtesy of Kenneth Coleman
Woman Pilot
Angel and Choir Boy and Girl
613
TWINTON FIGURINES BY TWIN WINTON CIRCA 1972
Cigarette and Match Holder
Snagglepuss
Baba Loo
T-15
Black Sambo marked "Design Don Winton (C) USA 1999 limited addition"
Chicken-Rooster Sugar Creamer
No number, personally signed by Don Winton
Miniature
German Shepard
These Old English Sheepdogs were designed by Don Winton.
Water Pitcure 3rd generation
Boy Angel courtesy of David Beavert
Rabbit & broken egg
T-13
Yogie Bear
Jerry Whetstine
Lake Chelan, WA
jerrykathyinchelan@yahoo.com
Shawn and Denise James
Wichita, Kansas
dlconey@cox.net
Spice Shakers. Are there any different ones out there?
Bank
Childrens' Album Sad Drummer Boy
Ice Bucket
John Reed
Pre World War Cats are black and white
Twin Winton Miniature Animals
T-1
Super Snooper
Coffee Cups
Liquor Bottle Pouring Spouts
Burke Winton Deer
Inscription inside the one of a kind mug set
Courtesy of David Beavert
Unfinished Fox and Mouse
Cat
Don's signature on the first woman Hillbilly mug.
Miniature Deer & Sleigh
T-16
Salt and Pepper Shakers
Garlic Jar
Dresser Caddy
Decanter
T-5.
It was an honor to know Don Winton before he passed. He was a incredible human being and I truly love what he gave to us through his pottery. His figurines mean everything in the world to us and we will continue to improve and expand this website as a tribute to his legacy.
GOD BLESS YOU DON AND NORMA WINTON
Napkin Holder
Hillbilly Lamp
Assorted Steins
Quick Draw McGraw
Twin Winton and Burke Winton Deer
Ash Tray
Ash Tray
Courtesy of David Beavert
615
A PICTORIAL COLLECTORS GUIDE TO
Mustache Cup
Miniature
T-9
Additional Twin Winton Figurines and Pottery
Unfinished prototype Fox and Mouse
Courtesy of David Beavert
Mug 1st generation
612
T-12
Ice Bucket
There is a T-20 out there some where.
If anybody has it please send me a picture and we will post it here.
I would sure like to know what he or she looks like.
Ice Bucket
Courtesy of David Beavert
610
Super Snooper's partner was Blabber. Does anybody have him? Would love to post the picture here along with any others that are not pictured here.
The whimsical line of Childrens' Album Figurines were created in 1950 to look similar to the Hummel Figurines which were very popular. The Children Album figurines did not sell well and subsequently were only produced for about a year to a year and a half. Because so few figurines were produced, they are very rare and difficult to find. I bought many of the Childrens' Album figurines fron Don's personal collection and have been able to find 23 different ones so far. In the "Don Wintons Designs" book by Micael Ellis on page 80 their is a quote from the 1950 LA Times which states ''A real Childrens Album is this endearing series of carefully sculpted figures taken right from childhood". These are my favorite fiurines and if anybody has one that is not pictured on this website please contact me so we could post it here. The first figurine pictured below of a boy with a straw hat, carrying a fish, with his dog, is the logo for the Alberta Molds Company from the early 1950s that Twin Winton sold molds to for over 30 years.
Anybody have a Childrens' Album Figurine not pictured here? If you do I sure would love to add it to the website.
Assorted Cats.
Courtesy of David Beavert
Hillbilly Display Figurine
T-2
Salt and Pepper Shakers
Here are pictures of the Hanna Barbara figurines that I have. Don Winton designed these figurines for the Hanna Barbara Company who own these characters. These characters are all from the " The Huckleberry Hound show" 1958-1962 and "The Quick Draw McGraw Show 1959-1961". The figurines were marked with a paper label, " Ideas Inc. Des Moines Iowa" with a number. I am missing Yogie Bear sitting on a stump, Snagglepuss, Hokey Wolf, and Boo Boo Bear. These characters are pictured in the ''Don Winton Designs Book'' by Michael Ellis on pages 91 and 92. I'm not sure how many characters were designed by Don and produced, so if anybody out there has any of these figurines that are not pictured here on the website, please let me know. I would love to have pictures and post them here.
Courtesy of David Beavert
Please be sure to click on page 2 for additional information and photographs and page 3 for Don's designs for the Hagen Renaker Company of Disney Characters and additional photographs.
T-3
Don Winton created and Twin Winton produced a line of Miniature Animal Figurines that are unmarked. They were sold by the H & L Sales Company of Los Angeles, California. Catalog sheets and pictures of the miniatures can be seen in "Don Winton Designs" book by Michael Ellis on pages 66 to 71. They are approx. one to two inches in size. It does appear from the K & L order form there were a total of 64 miniatures produced.
In the photographs below, I have placed the miniatures along side other Twin Winton Figurines to give you an ideal just how small these figurines are. These figurines are very hard to find and very hard to distinguish from Hagen Renaker Miniature Figurines. The minature figurines I have pictured here are all from Don Winton's personnal collection and personally signed. As you can see I have only seven of them. If anybody has any of these figurines or suspects that you have a Twin Winton Miniature, please contact me. If it is a Twin Winton Miniature I would love to post it here on the website.
In 1971 Don designed the Twinton Figurine Line. Twinton Inc was formed and in 1972 Twinton Figurines production started. Approximately 2,000 of each of the 20 Twinton figurines were made and 200 to 300 Twinton display stands.. They did not sell well and consequently did not last very long on the market. Please check out the "Don Winton Designs" book by Michael Ellis for the history behind these lovable Twinton figurines. They are featured on page 131.
The three Twinton minature figurines pictured below with the Twinton Display Stand are from the Hagnen Renaker Pottery Company Archives and the personal collection of Hagen Renaker Pottery founder, John Renaker. They were Twinton Minature prototypes and were believed given to Hagen Renaker by Don Winton for Hagen Renaker to produce. Hagen Renaker Pottery never produced these 2 3/4 inch loveable minature Twinton figurines and they are the only ones known to exist.
Courtesy of David Beavert
Ash Tray
T-11
T-6
Inside inscription of the Childrens' Album Figurines hang tag that describes the intent of the figurines.
One of my visits to Don and Norma Winton's home.
Angel courtesy of David Beavert
614
Ronald Reagan Bronze Bust courtesty David Vaccaro
Minatures
Hillbilly Man and Woman
Hillbilly Woman
General MaCarthur
T-8
Stein
Bathing Bowl
Pixie and Dixie
Minature Twinton Figurines shown with regular Twinton Figurines.
Zeke ??? and Ezra
Front and back of Childrens' Album hang tag that came with each figurine.
Twin Winton Hillbilly Pottery
Hanna Barbera Figurines designed by Don Winton
Fishing Creel Planter
Courtesy of David Beavert
Candy Dish
Childrems' Album Baseball Boys. There is believed to be a umpire out there.
Original Hillbilly display stand 1947.
Hokey Wolf
Don Winton at the 1998 Cookie Jar Show in Nashville Tenn.
Miniature
Donkey Courtesy Rick Willis
Angel playing flute courtesy of David Beavert
611
T-4
Mug 2nd generation
If anybody has any Twin Winton figurines or pottery that are not posted on this website, please send them to me and I will post them.
T-7
Large Hillbilly display figurine
T-20 ????
1st Generation Pretzel Bowl
Ash Tray
Large and small Creel courtesy of David Beavert
T-17
T-19
Mr Jinx
Courtesy of Rita Lasman
Jerry Whetstine
Wall pocket
Denise James holding original sketches drawn and signed by Don Winton.
In 1947 Don Winton designed and Twin Winton introduced the Hillbilly line. The Hillbilly fad lasted about three years until 1950. The hillbilly line was extremely popular and the factory could barely keep up production. The Hillbilly line was inspired by the Paul Webb cartoon series and featured hand painted pottery of the Ozark Mountain Men and Women, in different hand-painted colors, against a simulated wood grain finish, under glaze.
The Hillbilly series included lamps, pitchers, mug sets, pretzel bowls, ash trays, salt pepper shakers, cigarette boxes, wall pockets, candy dishes, bathing bowls, punch bowls and cups, pouring spouts, figurines, dresser caddys, ice buckets, napkin holders, banks, decanters, tankards and many more pieces. You can read more in depth on the Hillbilly pottery line in the "Don Winton Designs Book" by Michael Ellis starting on page 108.
The largest known Twin Winton Hillbilly collection is located in Wichita, Kansas and is owned by Shawn and Denise James. They have graciously provided a small sampling of pictures from their vast collection and at a later date will provide pictures of their entire Twin Winton Hillbilly collection. They are a wide collector of pottery and their vast collections includes cookie jars, Red Riding Hood pottery, Shawnee and of course The Twin Winton Hillbilly series. They really enjoy the humorous nature of the Hillbilly series and enjoy networking with other pottery collectors. If you have any questions about their collection they would love to hear from you.
Ice Bucket
Fishing Creel courtesy of David Beavert
Rare marked Skunks. Courtesy Shawn James
Burke Winton Deer
Salt and Pepper Shakers
Courtesy of David Beavert
Mug 3rd generation
Squirrel on a log
Miniature
T-10
Salt and Pepper Shakers
Salt and Pepper Shakers
Courtesy of Cindy Jacobs. Gift from late Father In Law
Assorted Figurines