Antique and Collectible Cows

Whether you are a fan of bovines who jump over the moon or Elsie, the bright-eyed icon of Borden Dairy, cows are kings of the barnyard. Some people are drawn to cows in advertisements, many promoting dairy products, of course, but others using cows to push everything from beer to burgers, which tests a true cow lover’s affection for these creatures. Cows make great creamers, cookie jars, and other common kitchen items, and they are often found grazing in fields depicted on 19th-century transferware plates. Cows can be sacred, as seen in the way they are portrayed in Indian antiques, or playful when cast in metal or plastic and made into toys. Vintage cow accessories for model trains are especially popular, as are cows and other barnyard animals such as horses and pigs for use in farm-themed playsets. And then there are cow-centric accessories and jewelry, in which cows and the symbols used to brand them appear on belt buckles, earrings, and necklaces.