California pottery

California pottery includes industrial, commercial, and decorative pottery produced in the Northern California and Southern California regions of the U.S. state of California. Production includes brick, sewer pipe, architectural terra cotta, tile, garden ware, tableware, kitchenware, art ware, figurines, giftware, and ceramics for industrial use. Ceramics include terra cotta, earthenware, porcelain, and stoneware products.

Key milestones in the history of California pottery include: the arrival of Spanish settlers, the advent of statehood and subsequent population growth, the Arts and Crafts movement, Great Depression, World War II era and the post-WWII onslaught of low-priced imports leading to a steep decline in the number of California potteries. California potters large and small have left a legacy of tableware design, collectibles, art, and architecture.

History

Tile has been a favorite building material in California since the early Spanish settled the area and brought with them the tradition of using brightly colored tiles in architecture. Helen Stiles, author of numerous books on the history of pottery, noted that Spanish, Mexican, and Chinese design of the 17th and 18th centuries all influenced the decoration of tile and other pottery in California.^[1]

As people moved into California after statehood in 1848, the demand for ceramic products grew exponentially. Buildings needed roofs, floors, and sewer pipes. The ceramic industry grew as the demand increased. The "Golden Era in tile making"^[2] and art pottery, influenced by the Arts and Crafts movement, was around 1910. Architect Julia Morgan used tiles to adorn her buildings, including the Hearst Castle in the 1920s.

The most active period for the production of household ceramics including tableware, kitchenware, giftware, and art ware was from the 1930s through the 1960s.^{[citation needed]} The major area of U.S. household ceramics production was in the Los Angeles Basin.^{[citation needed]} Around Los Angeles there were over 300 producers of figurines. Next in size was the Trenton area, followed by East Liverpool, and a few in the middle west, such as Ceramic Arts Studio, Red Wing Pottery and Haeger Potteries.^[3]

The period around World War II saw the greatest growth for the U.S. ceramic industry.^{[citation needed]} With imports cut off from European and Asian markets, small family-owned and larger potteries stepped in to fill the need for ceramic giftware and tableware throughout the United States. By 1948, "the peak year for the industry, over eight hundred ceramic concerns were in operation throughout California."^[4] With sunlight year round, an abundance of raw materials, and relatively inexpensive natural gas, California became competitive with centers of ceramic production such as the "Pottery Capital of the World" East Liverpool, Ohio, and Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire, England.

In the 1950s, favorable trade agreements toward Asian countries contributed to a flood of competitively priced ceramic wares entering the United States market. Only a fraction of California potteries survived this competition through the early 1960s. As of 2023, only a few are still in business.

"Big Five" California potteries

The "Big Five"^[5] California potteries, from the 1930s to the 1960s in reference to the range of products and output, were Vernon Kilns, J.A. Bauer Pottery, Metlox Potteries, Pacific Clay Products, and Gladding, McBean & Co. All of the "Big Five" potteries operated production facilities in the Los Angeles Basin. Gladding, McBean & Co. grew from one factory manufacturing sewer pipe and architectural terra cotta in Lincoln, California, to factories throughout California and the Pacific Northwest. Vernon Kilns closed in 1958, J.A. Bauer in 1962, and Metlox in 1988. The former Gladding, McBean & Co.'s Franciscan tableware and tile factory in Los Angeles was bought by Wedgwood from the Interpace corporation in 1979. Wedgwood closed the Franciscan Ceramics plant in 1984, moving production of the Franciscan tableware brands to England. The former Gladding, McBean & Co.'s Lincoln factory was purchased by Pacific Coast Building Products in 1976 and continues to produce sewer pipe, architectural terra cotta, and terra cotta garden ware. Pacific Clay Products discontinued manufacturing tableware, art ware, and figurines in 1942. Pacific Clay Products continues to manufacture sewer pipe.

Big Five potteries table

To use the sortable tables: click on the icons at the top of each column to sort that column in alphabetical order; click again for reverse alphabetical order.

Pottery	Location(s)	Dates	Tradename(s) / Products
J.A. Bauer Pottery	Los Angeles	1909–1962	Flower pots, crocks, jugs, tableware, garden ware, & art ware	^[4]
Gladding, McBean & Co., Lincoln plant (Interpace after 1962 and Pacific Coast Building Products after 1976))	Lincoln	1875–present	Sewer pipe, roof tiles, architectural terra cotta, paver tiles & garden ware	^[6]
Gladding, McBean & Co., Glendale plant (Interpace after 1962, and Franciscan Ceramics, Inc. after 1979)	Los Angeles	1923–1984	"Franciscan" "Catalina Pottery" tableware, kitchenware, art ware & "Hermosa" tile	^[4]
Metlox Manufacturing Company	Manhattan Beach	1927–1988	Tableware, giftware, kitchenware, cookie jars, figurines & art ware	^[7]
Pacific Clay Products	Los Angeles	1916–present	Sewer pipe. From 1932 to 1942: "Pacific Pottery" tableware, kitchenware, art ware & figurines. From 1943–present: brick & pavers	^[8]
Vernon Kilns	Vernon	1931–1958	Tableware, art ware, & figurines	^[9]

Potteries of California

Northern California

Geographically, see Northern California.

To use the sortable tables: click on the icons at the top of each column to sort that column in alphabetical order; click again for reverse alphabetical order.

Pottery	Location(s)	Dates	Tradename(s) / Products
Arequipa Pottery	Fairfax	1911–1918	Art pottery	^[2]^[10]
Billie Vier	Berkeley	1940s	Figurines	^[11]
California Art Tile Company (Cal Art)	Richmond	1923–1964	Tile	^[2]
California Faience (The Tile Shop before 1924)	Berkeley	1915–1959	Art pottery & tile	^[2]^[12]
California Pottery Company	Oakland, Niles, Merced	1873–1929	Pipe, roof tile, utilitarian pottery, crockery, & garden ware	^[13]
California Ra-Art	Richmond	1930s	Art ware & figurines	^[11]
Camp Del Mar Pottery	Capitola	late 1940s-early 1950s	"Campo" tableware & art ware	^[14]
Carnegie Brick and Pottery Company Pottery plant	Tesla, California	1903-1911	Figurines, art pottery, vases, urns, clay pipes	^[15]
Chase Originals (Adele Chase)	Berkeley	1930s-1950s	Art ware & figurines	^[11]
Environmental Ceramics, Inc.	San Francisco	1960s	Kitchenware	^[16]
Evans Ceramics Inc.	Healdsburg	1974-	Art ware & cookware	^[14]
Garden City Pottery Company	San Jose	1902–1979	Crockery, tableware, art ware, garden ware & kitchenware	^[17]
Gladding Ceramic Insulator Company, Inc.	San Jose	1924-	Tile. "Gladco" insulators after 1964	^[14]
Heath Ceramics	Sausalito	1948–present	Tableware & art ware
Handcraft Tile (San Jose Tile before 1931)	Topanga	1926–present	Tile	^[18]
Hans Sumpf Company	Madera	1939–2006	Garden ware & architectural wall surfaces	^[19]
Homer Knowles Pottery Company	Santa Clara	1923–1937	"K.T.K" "K.T. and K." Art ware, restaurant ware, figurines & novelty giftware	^[14]^[20]
Jade Snow Wong	San Francisco	1950s-1960s	Art ware
Jam Ceramic Design	Sacramento	1975-mid-1980s	Artware, tableware, figurines & giftware	^[14]
Jane Fauntz	Berkeley	1940s	Figurines	^[11]
Jessie Grimes	San Francisco Bay area	1940s	Figurines	^[11]
Kay the Potter (Kay Kinney)	Berkeley	1930s	Figurines & art ware	^[11]
Lagunita	Oakland	1940s	Figurines	^[11]
Laurel Pottery and Manufacturing Company	Stockton	1938–1962	Flower pots, art ware & tableware	^[14]
Monterey Pottery	Carmel Valley	1948-unknown	"Monterey Jade" art ware, figurines & giftware	^[11]^[20]
Mudflat Pottery	Alviso	1974-unknown	Cookie Jars, giftware, tableware & utilitarian ware	^[20]
Muresque Tiles	Oakland	1925–1935	Tile	^[21]
Panama Pottery	Sacramento	1914–present	Utility ware, flower pots, garden ware & art ware	^[22]
Pond Farm Pottery	Guerneville	1953–1980	Art pottery
Ransgil Glass Co.	Oakland	1940s-50s	Gold-encrusted china and glassware
Red Doat	Berkeley	1930s	Figurines	^[11]
Redlands Pottery	Redlands	1902–1909	Art ware	^[10]
Richenda Stevick	Redwood City, then Berkeley	1930s	Figurines & art ware	^[11]
Roblin Art Pottery	San Francisco	1898–1906	Art pottery	^[12]
San Carlos Pottery	San Carlos	late 1930s-late 1940s	Artware & figurines	^[11]^[14]
San Jose Tile (Handcraft Tile after 1931)	San Jose, California	1926–1931	Tile	^[18]
Sierra Vista Ceramics	Sierra Vista	1942–1951	Giftware, cookie jars & kitchenware	^[14]
Solon and Schemmel Tile Company (S&S)	San Jose	1920–1936	Tile	^[21]
Sorcha Boru	San Carlos	1936–1950	Art ware, giftware & figurines	^[12]
Stockton Terra Cotta Company (Stockton Art Pottery after 1896)	Stockton	1890–1895	Firebrick, sewer pipe & stove pipe & art pottery	^[10]
Stockton Art Pottery (Stockton Brick and Pottery Company after 1901)	Stockton	1896–1900	Sewer pipe, brick & art pottery	^[10]
Stockton Brick and Pottery Company	Stockton	1901-1902	Sewer pipe & brick	^[10]^[15]
Stonelite	San Jose	unknown	Tile	^[16]
Strictly Stoneware	Capitola	unknown	Tableware	^[23]
Technical Porcelain and Chinaware Company (TEPCO)	El Cerrito	1922–1968		^[11]^[14]
Walrich Pottery	Berkeley	1922–1930	Art pottery, figurines & tile	^[21]
Washburn	Berkeley	1930s-1940s	Art ware	^[11]
West Coast Porcelain Manufacturers	Millbrae	1920s	Sanitary ware & "California Porcelain" art ware	^[14]
Woolenius Tile Company	Berkeley	1927–1941	Tile	^[21]

Southern California

Geographically, see Southern California.

To use the sortable tables: click on the icons at the top of each column to sort that column in alphabetical order; click again for reverse alphabetical order.

Pottery	Location(s)	Dates	Tradename(s) / Products
Acme Tile Company	Los Angeles	1925–1932	Tile	^[2]
Adelle	Laguna Beach	1940s	Art ware	^[11]
Affiliated Craftsmen's Studio	Los Angeles	unknown	Planters	^[24]
Alhamhra Kilns, Inc.	Alhambra	1920s-	Floor and roof tile	^[25]
Alberhill Coal and Clay Company	Alberhill (Riverside County)	1882–1920	Art pottery from 1910 to 1912	^[10]^[12]
Alexander Franzka	La Crescenta-Montrose	1965-1987	Figurines, art ware, gift ware, terra cotta	^[11]
Alhambra Kilns, Inc.	Santa Monica	1926–1937	Tile & roof tile	^[2]
American Ceramic Products	Los Angeles, Santa Monica	1939–1967	"La Mirada" "Winfield" tableware, art ware, & figurines	^[4]
American China Company	Los Angeles	1920s	Tile	^[25]
American Encaustic Tiling Company (Gladding, McBean & Co. after 1933)	Vernon, Hermosa Beach	1919–1933	Tile	^[2]
American Pottery	Los Angeles, San Juan Capistrano	1943–1953	"Brad Keeler Art Ware" "American Pottery" giftware, art ware, & figurines	^[4]
American Refractories Company	Los Angeles	unknown	Fire brick	^[25]
Angulo Tile Company	Santa Barbara & Reseda	unknown	Floor & roof tile	^[25]
Ann Crochran	North Hollywood	early to mid-1950s	Art ware	^[11]
Arcadia Ceramics	Arcadia	1940s-1950s	Novelty giftware	^[4]
Architectural Pottery	Los Angeles	1950–1962	Planters, ash trays	^[26]
Artistic Potteries Company	Whittier	1940s	Art ware, giftware & figurines	^[14]
Atlas Fire Brick Company	Los Angeles	unknown	Fire brick	^[25]
B.J. Brock (Southern California Pottery Company)	Lawndale	1947-80	"Brock" "Brock Ware" "Grantcrest" tableware	^[4]^[14]
Ball Brothers	Inglewood	1943–1948	Art ware & figurines	^[4]
Barbara Willis	North Hollywood	1942–1958	Art ware & figurines	^[27]
Batchelder	Pasadena	1910–1932	Tile & architectural products	^[21]
Batchelder-Wilson Company	Los Angeles	mid-1920s	Tile & architectural products	^[25]
Bauer Pottery Company of Los Angeles	Los Angeles	2000–present	"Bauer 2000" Tableware, art ware & kitchenware	^[28]
Belmar of California	Los Angeles	1965–1967	Art ware	^[14]
Bell Manufacturing and Sales Co.	Los Angeles	1950s	Figurines & art ware	^[11]
The Bennetts	North Hollywood	1940s-1950s	Art ware	^[11]
Bergstrom and French	Glendale, California (Scottsdale, Arizona after 1954)	1946–1953	"Solana Ware" Ovenware	^[14]
Bernard Studios	Los Angeles	1940s	Figurines	^[11]
Beth Barton	Fullerton	1940s-1950s	Figurines	^[11]
Betty Lou Nichols	La Habra	1949–1962	Giftware & figurines	^[29]
Bevan Kilns	Pasadena, Sierra Madre after 1943	1940s	Figurines & giftware	^[11]
Bill Meyer	Los Angeles	1950s	Figurines & art ware	^[11]
Bishop of California	unknown	1940s	Planters, giftware	^[30]
Block Pottery	Los Angeles	1940s	Figurines, art ware & giftware	^[11]
Bradster Potteries	Los Angeles	1941–1943	Tableware, art ware & figurines	^[4]
Brayton Laguna Pottery	Laguna Beach	1927–1968	Tableware, art ware & figurines	^[21]
Brusche Ceramics/Brusche Ceramics of California (J.A. Bauer Pottery after 1950)	Whittier	1949	Tableware	^[14]
Burke-Simmons	unknown	late 1930s-1940s	Figurines	^[11]
Burke-Winton	unknown	1930s	Figurines	^[11]
California Art Products	unknown	1940s	Giftware	^[11]
California Art Tile Company (Cal Art)	Richmond	1923–1964	Tile	^[2]
California Brick and Tile Company (formerly Owens Brick Company	Van Nuys	unknown	Brick	^[25]
California Belleek	Los Angeles	1948–1967	Figurines, giftware, tableware & art ware	^[14]
California Ceramics (Ceramic Manufacturing Company)	Calabasas	1940s-1950s	"Orchard Ware" tableware	^[14]^[21]
California China Products Company (CCPCo)	National City	1911–1917	"Kaospar" tile	^[2]^[10]
California Clay Products (Calco)	South Gate	1923–1932	Tile	^[2]
The California Cleminsons	El Monte	1941–1963	Giftware & figurines	^[4]
California Dresden	Glendale	1951–1954	Figurines & art ware	^[14]
California Figurine Company (Weil of California after 1946)	Los Angeles	1941–1946	"Weil Ware" giftware, artware, tableware & figurines	^[4]
California Originals	Torrance	1955–1982	Kitchenware, giftware	^[4]
California Pottery and Tile Works	Los Angeles	1994–present	Tile	^[31]
Calpotter	Laguna Beach	1940s	Art ware	^[11]
Capistrano Ceramics/John R. Stewart Inc.	San Juan Capistrano	1948–1951	Art ware & figurines	^[14]
Carlana China	Los Angeles	1940s	Figurines	^[20]
Catalina Clay Products	Avalon, Catalina Island	1927–1937	Tableware, art ware, tile, giftware & figurines	^[32]
Casa Verdugo Pottery	Montrose	1940s	Giftware	^[33]
Cemar Clay Products	Los Angeles	1935–1955	Giftware, kitchenware, art ware & figurines	^[4]
Ceramicraft	San Clemente	1950s	Art ware	^[11]
Ceramic Originals by Freeman-Leidy	Laguna Beach	1944–1955	Figurines, giftware, & tile	^[20]
Chalice of California	Los Angeles	1945-early 1950s	Tableware, art ware & figurines	^[11]
Classic Terra Cotta Company	Long Beach	2003–present	Terra cotta floor tile	^[34]
Clay Sketches	Pasadena	1940-50s	Figurines	^[4]
Clay Works, Inc.	Canoga Park	1973-	Planters	^[20]
Claycraft Potteries	Los Angeles	1921–1939	Tile	^[2]
The Claysmiths	San Gabriel	1945–1956	"Will-George" art ware & figurines	^[4]
Claire Lerner	Los Angeles	1946-1950s	Art ware & figurines	^[4]
Cole-Merris	San Gabriel	early 1940s	Art ware & figurines	^[11]
Covina Pottery	Covina	1943-1990s	Planters & art ware	^[11]
Crest China Company (Royal Crest China after 1952)	Santa Ana	1949-mid-1950s	Art ware & giftware	^[14]
Crowell	Hemet	1940s	Figurines	^[11]
D. & M. Tile Company	Los Angeles	1928–1939	Tile	^[2]
Dan Daniels	unknown	1930s	Figurines	^[11]
De Forest of California	Duarte	1950–1970	Cookie jars & novelty giftware	^[20]
deLee Art Company	Los Angeles	1937-1950s	Figurines	^[35]
DeCora Ceramics, Inc.	Inglewood	1952–1954	Art pottery, wall plates & dinnerware	^[14]^[36]
Decorative Arts, Inc.	Hawthorne	1927–1933	"Dec-Art" tile	^[2]
Denwar Ceramics	Costa Mesa	1940s-1950s	Dinnerware	^[11]
Desert Sands	Barstow	1960s-70s	Art ware	^[4]
Designcraft, Inc.	Los Angeles	1963-	Tile, kitchenware and art ware	^[20]
Dick Knox Pottery	Laguna Beach	1942–1950	"Knox China" tableware & art ware	^[4]
Donna Winston	unknown	1950s	Art ware, giftware & mugs	^[11]
Doranne of California	Los Angeles	1950s-1980s	Cookie jars, kitchenware, giftware, & planters	^[4]
Douglass Clay Products Company (Pacific Sewer Pipe after 1910)	Los Angeles	1903–1910	Sewer pipe	^[37]
Dorothy Kindell	Laguna Beach	1940s-1950s	Giftware & figurines	^[4]
Drummond Pottery	Capistrano Beach	1950s	Figurines	^[11]
Dubby of Hollywood	Hollywood	1940s	Figurines	^[11]
Earthgender	El Segundo	1970s	Art ware & planters
Edmond Ronaky	Laguna Beach	1950s	Art ware & giftware	^[11]
Elzac	Los Angeles, after 1944 Hawthorne	1941–1947	Figurines	^[11]
Emesco Refractories Company	Los Angeles	1927-unknown	Fire brick	^[25]
Empire China Company	Burbank	1920s-	Restaurant ware & tableware	^[20]
The Enchanto Co.	Burbank	1950s	Tableware	^[11]
Esther Shirey	Encino	1930s	Figurines	^[4]
Eugene White	Bell Gardens	1941–1948	Tableware & art ware	^[11]
Ever Art Ceramics	Los Angeles	1940s	Art ware	^[38]
The Feldman Company	Los Angeles	unknown	Lamps	^[24]
FHR Fred Robertson Los Angeles Pottery	Los Angeles	1906–1921	Art ware
Fleurette Ceramics, Inc.	West Hollywood	1950s	Giftware	^[20]
Flintridge China Company (Gorham after 1970)	Pasadena	1945–1970	Tableware	^[20]
Florence Ceramics	Pasadena	1942–1977	Giftware & figurines	^[39]
Frazier, Inc.	North Hollywood	1960s	Kitchenware	^[14]
Fred Wind Ceramics	Glendale	1950–1960	"Windware" art ware	^[11]
Freeman Lederman	Van Nuys	unknown	Kitchenware & tableware	^[40]
Freeman McFarlin	El Monte & San Marcos	1951–1980	Art ware & figurines	^[41]
G.T. Chemical Products, Inc.	San Diego	1977-1980s	"Clay in Mind" planters, cookware, & giftware	^[14]
Gainey Ceramics Inc.	La Verne	1949–2013	Planters & tile	^[20]
Gene Lodi	unknown	1950s	Art ware	^[11]
Genevieve and Charles Tulley	Glendale	1947-unknown	Lamps, art ware & figurines	^[20]
Gilner	Culver City	1948–1957	Art ware	^[4]
Globe Tile and Porcelain Works	Los Angeles	unknown	Tile	^[25]
Golden State Ceramics	Pasadena	1940s	Artware & giftware	^[42]
Grand Feu Art Pottery (Brauckman Art Pottery)	Los Angeles	mid-1900s	"Grand Feu" and "Brauckman" art ware	^[12]
Grant Beach	Los Angeles	1940s	Art ware	^[33]
Grayson Arts	Pasadena	1949-unknown	Giftware & art ware	^[14]
Green Tree Studio (Bess Wilson)	North Hollywood	1940s	Gifware	^[33]
Group Artec	Los Angeles	unknown	Tile & planters	^[23]
Guppy	Corona del Mar	1940s-1950s	“Island Ware” tableware	^[4]
H.F. Coors	Inglewood	1925–2003	Institutional china	^[4]^[20]^[43]
H & H Tile Company	Los Angeles	1927-unknown	Tile	^[25]

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