Q: We found a set of three ceramic figures when my mother-in-law died. One figure is a man wearing a hat that says “Bourbon” and another is a man playing a guitar that says “Vodka.” The third figure is a Scottish man playing bagpipes with “Scotch” on the front. The heads of each figure pop on and off. Underneath each it says “Member of the Bar by Swank.” What can you tell us about them?
A: These decanters were made for Swank, a company that makes accessories for men. An ad for six Swank decanters ran in a December 1959 issue of Life magazine. The decanters were selling for $3.95 each. McCoy Pottery of Roseville, Ohio, made advertising items for Swank, but some of these decanters are labeled “Japan,” so may not have been made by McCoy. Value today, about $10-$15 each.