Joanne DeLomba has created several different lines for Lotus International. Each contemporary line has a range of ceramic items: Pitchers, candle holders, mugs, plates, covered boxes, teapots, vases, lamps and cookie jars.

Romance
Contemporary designs with comic book art. Shown below is the "Hello" Cookie Jar. It's a huge jar at 11" high -- it will hold a lot of cookies (several packages of oreos). The jar is very reminiscent of the Sigma Peter Max. And this could be a real collectors item one day. Why? There are not many jars made that appeal to the "different" or contemporary cookie jar collector. And this humorous, artist designed jar, will certainly do that. The jar could also be bypassed by the collector of traditional cookie jars -- making it more scarce in later years. Approximate retail price is $48.

All of the pieces in the Romance line are terrific, but special nods go to the pitcher (very thin and tall), the teapot and the plates that are cartoon balloon shaped with only one word.

Other Lines:

Queen of Hearts
The Queen of Hearts line consists of black and white ceramics with a single red heart somewhere in the design. For instance, there is a dome-shaped cookie jar with a black and white modern figure as a finial. Design on the jar is white line drawings on black and, vice versa, black line drawings on white. The drawings include black and white hearts with wings, all with an encouraging or uplifting word on each. Some of the designs includes the text "I Love You" or "Yeah" in several places around the jar.

Cafe Au Laut
Another black and white line with whimsical cups and saucers that are "colored". The cookie jar in this line is a crock jar with a ring of cups and saucers drawn around the jar. The finial is very interesting, sort of a cup with a swirl of steam.

Bagels
Another cool line and, yes, the pottery is embellished with bagels all over. Black and white is also the main color of these designs, with line drawings of bagels that are light brown. Lots of fun pieces are shown, including another dome jar. Bagels are the finials and are very large in proportion to the rest of the piece.

Fun Animals
Four different glass and ceramic combination jars. The body is glass, the head, paws and tail are ceramic and attached to the glass portion of the jar. The dog, cat, pig and cow are dressed up in party hats and also have a brightly colored collar. These jars are in the $45. range.

For the chicken collectors, a very modern black hen on a huge white egg jar is 9" high. The egg is about two thirds the size of the black hen, who has a quizzical look on her face.

Also shown was a both a dog and cat cannister cookie jar done in her standard black and white drawings with animals done in pastels around the jar. These drawings are all very whimsical line art. The finials are fun, a blue cat on one. And a black dog holding a huge white bone (bigger than he is) on the other. There are matching dog and cat bowls.