Twin Peaks Set Decoration – Twin Winton Duck Cookie Jar at the Double R Diner

Despite having watching Twin Peaks countless times in the past three decades, I’m still discovering new things about the show. For example, there is a ceramic duck cookie jar found on the Double R Diner set. As one of three cookie jars in the diner, I thought for certain the duck one appeared often throughout the first two seasons. I was quickly corrected, however, after researching its history and on-screen appearances.

TWIN WINTON DUCK WITH MIXING BOWL AT THE DOUBLE R DINER

When Big Ed Hurley, Deputy Hawk and Sheriff Harry S. Truman are seen waiting for Special Agent Dale Cooper at the Double R Diner in episode 1.003, you can see two cookie jars located on the plant shelf next to their booth. This isn’t the first time we see the duck with a mixing bowl cookie jar. It would appear in the background of episode 1.002 when Big Ed speaks with Norma Jennings and Audrey and Donna chat at the counter.

Yet episode 1.003 was filmed weeks ahead of the David Lynch-directed second episode in fall 1989 as he was away filming Wild At Heart. Lynch directed 1.002 in December 1989, making it the last episode filmed during the first season.

The camera cuts to a close up of Big Ed and we can spot the brown-colored duck hiding in the faux plants.

This set piece has been known for more than a decade as Twin Peaks Props Blogspot first posted about the duck in May 2012. Long before Twin Peaks Blog was launched, it was Brother Jerry Horne’s site that sparked my interest in identifying props and set decor from Twin Peaks.

The ceramic duck appears to be holding a mixing bowl.

Fellow Twin Peaks Blog author Vinnie Guidera shared photos of the replica cookie jar in his collection. This set decoration was his third post on his Instagram account – @TwelveRainbowTrout – on April 25, 2020.

Thanks the maker’s mark on the bottom of the cookie jar, we can see it was made by Twin Winton located in California, United States of America. I’m still looking for my own replica of this Twin Peaks set piece as it would look great next to the owl cookie jar from the Jones family home in Twin Peaks: The Return.

WHO IS TWIN WINTON OF CALIFORNIA?

Don Winton was born on June 2, 1919 in  Govan, Saskatoon Census Division, Saskatchewan, Canada. While attending high school in Pasadena, California, his brother Ross and he discovered ceramic making. In 1936, the brothers started a joint venture – Burke-Winton – with Helen Burke who painted and sold the items the brothers designed and made. After a successful few years, the brothers broke out on their own in 1939.

In 1943, Don and Ross joined the war effort by enlisting in the military. After the war, they reformed Twin Winton Ceramics in 1946 with older brother Bruce joining the Pasadena, California firm as their business manager. Their first cookie jars began production around 1951.

A year later, the brothers sold their interests in the company to their older brother so they could become freelance designers. Older brother Bruce relocated the Twin Winton Ceramics Co. to El Monte, California where it operated successfully during the 1950s. The company needed to expand by 1964, so Bruch purchased a plant in San Juan Capistrano, California., where it remained until forced to close in 1974.

In addition to kitchen ware and cookie jars, the Wintons also sculpted for Bob’s Big Boy, the Grammy awards, country music awards, numerous famous people and other special events . Don also sculpted for The Walt Disney Company from 1954 until his death on March 5, 2007, including designing the iconic Mickey Mouse telephone. You can see many Twin Winton designs on this dedicated website.

TWIN WINTON DUCK COOKIE JAR APPEARANCES IN TWIN PEAKS

The first on-screen appearance of the duck cookie jar is found in episode 1.002 when Big Ed Hurley takes off his jacket after entering the Double R Diner.

It will appear later in the episode when Donna Hayward crosses the diner to greet Audrey Horne.

The cookie jar hangs in the background as Audrey and Donna discuss coffee and Special Agent Dale Cooper.

It’s seen again in episode 1.003 at the Bookhouse Boys meeting.

As the camera pans from an empty Double R Diner booth to Hank Jennings in episode 1.005, you can see the duck on the plant shelf.

The camera pans around to Hank Jennings drinking his coffee while waiting for Norma Jennings to return to the diner. The duck is seen sitting over his shoulder. This will be the cookie jar’s final appearance in the first season.

With the start of the second season at the end of September 1990, the duck cookie jar appears out-of-focus behind Maddy Ferguson as she meets with Donna Hayward at the diner.

Later in the second season opener, we see the duck sitting in the corner as Bobby Briggs crosses to his father, Major Garland Briggs, who is seated in a booth.

The duck, however, disappears behind Bobby in episode 2.001 when the camera cuts to close up reaction shots.

When Bobby reacts to Hank Jennings after his father shared his vision and left the diner, we see the duck is positioned in the corner.

But here is the strangest part, we don’t see the duck again for most of the second season. Two other cookie jars will trade places along the plant shelf after episode 2.001.

In the final episode 2.022, the duck makes a surprising return. It’s briefly seen as Dr. Lawrence Jacoby and Sarah Palmer enter the diner to meet with Major Briggs. This was another David Lynch-directed episode, so it could be likely that he requested the duck to return. I’d love to know where the original is located today.