George Jones Cheese Domes

Many manufacturers made cheese bells but those of the Jones pottery are something special. The designs are elegant, the colors vibrant and the subjects pastoral. 

My favorite cheese dome design is a GJ creation, his waterlily and dragonfly pattern.

This pattern was made in both low and tall sizes like most GJ domes as well as with a couple of different handle treatments, the traditional waterlily blossom, and a rarer version with a kingfisher handle. Like all of the GJ domes it was also made in several colors.

Another dome made with different handles is this large piece with shells, leaves and a snake handle.

It was also made with this unusual goat handle.

One of the most easily found GJ cheese domes is this cow and acanthus leaf design. It was the first GJ dome I ever owned and still one of the simplest and loveliest in design. It is part of a large series  including plates, butter dishes and a sardine box.

This same cow handle was used on the Jones Calla lily bell, part of the larger rare Calla lily series.

A GJ dome pattern found frequently is the apple blossom pattern, also part of a larger series.

Another commonly found dome is the Rustic pattern.

Rustic Stilton Cheese Stand

Rustic Stilton Cheese Stand

An unusual cheese dome pattern made by the company is the thatched bee skep cheese keeper in two sizes. It is beautiful and very rare. It is also one of the most valuable GJ cheese keepers.

George Jones majolica tall Beehive Stilton cheese bell

George Jones majolica short bee Beehive cheese bell

Probably the most famous of the GJ cheese stands is the fence and daisy design. Although it's certainly a pretty design I've never really understood its fame or the unusually high prices this one commands. Perhaps it has something to do with this over-the-top description in the Katz-Marks' books:

"For those who love George Jones Majolica (I never met a collector who did not like the work of this pottery), this stupendous cheese keeper will be the centerpiece of the collection. The cobalt blue background is particularly effective. Everything about this large and beautiful piece is ideal."

--The Collector's Encyclopedia of Majolica.

Ms Marks' books were the first contemporary majolica identification guides available to the majolica collector. As such they were very influential in the early development of the retail majolica market. This piece certainly wouldn't be the first design to benefit from Ms. Katz-Marks' enthusiasm. Over time they've been replaced by newer, more accurate references which has caused their influence on the market to decrease.

George Jones also made cheese domes in a number of other patterns, all of them beautiful.

Jones wild rose cheese bell

George Jones wild rose cheese bell lid with 

Jones pond lily base

Jones turret cheese bell

George Jones majolica Sea and Sky cheese bell

Like everything else, there are reproductions of GJ cheese bells on the market. None of them are very good. Here are a few below.

Reproduction cheese bell

Reproduction cheese bell

Reproduction cheese bell

Reproduction cheese bell

Reproduction cheese bell