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.

Ceramic Originals by Freeman-Leidy, crane figurine.

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. The major area of U.S. household ceramics production was in the Los Angeles basin. 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. 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. Today, 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 1932-1942: "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 1910–1912	[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–present	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]
Hagen-Renaker	Monrovia then San Dimas	1946–present	Giftware, planters & figurines	[41]
Halcyon Art Pottery	Halcyon	1910–1913	Art pottery	[10]
Haldeman Pottery	Burbank	1933–1953	"Caliente" art ware & figurines	[4]
Hallfield Pottery	unknown	1950s	Figurines	[11]
Hamilton Pottery	Los Angeles	1930s	Figurines & art ware	[11]
Hardie-Arnita	El Segundo	1940s	Figurines	[11]
Harold Burress Pottery	North Hollywood	1950s	Giftware	[20]
Harold Johnson	Glendale	1940–1952	Art ware	[4]
Hedi Schoop	Hollywood	1940–1958	Art ware & figurines	[4]
Heirlooms of Tomorrow (California Originals after 1955)	Manhattan Beach	1944–1955	Figurines	[4]
Helen Greenleaf Lane	Upland	1874–1962	Tile	[21]
Hermione Ceramics	Glendale	1940s-1950s	Giftware & figurines	[36][44]
Hinkle of Monrovia	Monrovia	1940s	Kitchenware	[30]
Hispano-Moresque	Los Angeles	1927–1934	Tile	[21]
Hoffman Tile Company	Ontario	unknown	"Dequa" tile	[40]
Hollydale Potteries	Harbor City	1935–1959	“Malibu Modern” tableware	[4]
Howard Pierce Ceramics	LaVerne, after 1945 Claremont, after 1968 Joshua Tree	1941–1994	Giftware & figurines	[45]
Hueckel China and Porcelain Company, Inc.	El Monte	1948-	"Kaolina" art ware, & hotel ware	[20]
Italian Terra Cotta Company	Los Angeles	unknown	Architectural Terra Cotta & garden ware	[25]
Ivar of Hollywood	Hollywood	1940s	Art ware & figurines	[11]
Jane Callender	North Hollywood	1942-early 1950s	Figurines	[4]
Jane Holland	South Gate	1940s	Kitchenware	[11]
Jaru Art Products	Culver City	1950–1968	Art ware & figurines	[20]
Jaska of California	Los Angeles	1946-mid-1950s	Giftware & "Cascade Ware" tableware	[14]
Jean Goodwin Ames	Padua Hills, Claremont	1950s	Giftware & art ware	[11]
Jean Manley	North Hollywood	1940-50s	Figurines	[11]
Jean Read	unknown	1940s	Giftware	[30]
Jenev Studio Design	Los Angeles	1953–1959	Giftware & art ware
Johanna Ceramics	Costa Mesa	1940s	Art ware	[11]
Josef Originals	Monrovia	1946–1985	Figurines	[46]
Johannes Brahm	Los Angeles/Reseda	1945–1956	Giftware & art ware	[20]
Joy Thompson	Pasadena	1940s-1950s	Figurines	[4]
K & M Pottery	Los Angeles	unknown	Stoneware utilitarian wares	[25]
Karl Roma	unknown	1940s	Artware, figurines & giftware	[11]
Kay Finch Ceramics	Corona Del Mar	1940s-1963	Tableware, art ware, & figurines	[47]
Kaye of Hollywood	North Hollywood	early 1940s	Figurines	[4]
Kellems of Ceramics	Pasadena	1940s	Art ware	[11]
Kim Ward (formerly Kaye of Hollywood)	North Hollywood	late 1940s	Figurines	[4]
The Kiln of Sara Hume	Altadena	1940s	Art ware & figurines	[48]
Kinneloa Kiln	Los Angeles	1938–1951	"Batchhelder Ceramics" art ware	[14]
Kipp Ceramics	Pasadena	late 1940s	Art ware & figurines	[20]
Knowles, Taylor, and Knowles	Burbank	1940s	Art ware & figurines	[11]
Kraftile	Niles	1926–1997	Tile	[21]
L.A. Pressed Brick	Los Angeles	1887–1926	Brick, architectural terra cotta & tile	[21]
La Mirada Potteries	Los Angeles	1935–1939	Tableware, art ware & figurines	[11]
La Cañada	Newhall	1930s-1940s	Tableware, kitchenware & art ware	[4]
Landaker Original Ceramics	Los Angeles	1940s	Art ware & figurines	[11]
Lane	Van Nuys	1940s-1950s	TV lamps & planters	[4]
Lee Wollard	Burbank	1946–1951	Figurines & art ware	[12]
Leneige China	Burbank	1934–1955	Tableware & art ware	[14]
Lester of California	Pasadena	1950s	Figurines	[11]
Los Angeles Potteries	Lynwood	1940s-1971	Tableware, cookie jars, & kitchenware	[4][20]
Los Angeles Stoneware Company (Douglass Clay Products Company after 1903)	Los Angeles	1900–1903	Sewer pipe	[37]
Lucie Watkins	Los Angeles	1940s	Figurines & art ware	[11]
M & L Manufacturing Company	Azusa	1950s	"De Maray" tableware & art ware	[11]
Mackie Artware	Corona Del Mar	1940s-1950s	Figurines & art ware	[11]
Madeline Originals	Pasadena	1948–present	Art ware & garden ware	[4]
Maddux of California	Los Angeles	1938–1976	Art ware, giftware & figurines	[4]
Malibu Ceramic Works	Topanga	1979–present	Tile, pots, terra cotta floor tile	[49]
Malibu Potteries	Malibu	1926–1932	Tile	[21]
Marc Bellaire, Inc.	Culver City	1953-early 1960s	Giftware, figurines & art ware	[11]
Marcia Ceramics of California	Los Angeles	early 1940s-unknown	Cookie jars, giftware & figurines	[20]
Markham Pottery	National City	1913–1921	Art ware	[12]
Markoff	Inglewood	1926–1945	Tile	[21]
Marsh Industries	Glendale, after 1959 Los Angeles	1950-	"French Chef Cookware" cookware and "California Giftware" giftware	[14]
Mary Jane Hart	Los Angeles	1940s	"Copa de Oro" figurines	[11]
Maybrik	Los Angeles	unknown	Tile	[16]
Mathew Adams	Los Angeles	1960s	Art ware	[4]
Max P.H. Schonfeld	Los Angeles	1939-late 1950s	"Kaolina" artware & giftware	[14]
Maxine Cloud	Hawthorne	1945–1953	Giftware & art ware	[11]
McCarty Brothers	Sierra Madre	1940s	Giftware & figurines	[4]
Mc Me Productions	Simi Valley	1980s	Cookie Jars	[11]
McAffee	San Gabriel	1940s	Art ware	[11]
Mel Ceramics	Torrance	1950s	Tableware & art ware	[36][50]
Meyers/California Rainbow Pottery	Vernon	1930s-1940s	Tableware, kitchenware & art ware	[4]
Miramar of California	Los Angeles	1950s-1960s	Tableware, kitchenware & art ware	[4]
Mission China Company	Los Angeles	unknown	Hotel & restaurant ware	[25]
Modglin’s Originals	Los Angeles	1940–1945	Figurines	[4]
Moreno Ceramics	Pomona	1971-unknown	Flower pots & figural planters	[20]
Nipedal Manufacturing Co.	Pasadena	1940s	"Pas Cal" figurines & giftware	[42]
Northington Inc.	Los Angeles	1950s	Tableware	[11]
Orange Grove Pottery	Burbank	1948–1974	Tableware, giftware & planters	[20]
Padre	Los Angeles	1930s-1940s	Tableware, kitchenware, art ware & figurines	[4]
Pacific Art Tile Company (Western Art Tile Company after 1904	Los Angeles (Tropico)	1902–1904	Tile	[10][25]
Pacific Sewer Pipe Company (Pacific Clay Products after 1916)	Los Angeles, Los Nietos	1910–1916	Sewer pipe	[37]
Pat and Covey Stewart	Laguna Beach	1940s	Art ware	[11]
Peterson Studios	El Segundo	1950s	Art ware	[11]
Phyllis Lester	Los Angeles	1940s	Art ware	[11]
Pillin Pottery	Los Angeles	early 1948-1992	Art ware	[14]
Pixie Potters (Millicent Andrews)	Los Angeles	1939–1954	" Millesan Drews Miniature Pixies" figurines	[11][14]
Poinsettia Ceramics	Baldwin Park	1940s	Giftware	[30]
Pomona Tile Manufacturing Co.	Pomona	1923–1976	Tile	[21]
Potters Associated	Paramount	unknown	Tableware	[40]
Poxon China Products	Vernon	1912–1928	Tile & tableware	[21]
Pro Artisans	Manhattan Beach	unknown	Lamps	[40]
Proutyline Products (American Encaustic Tiling Co. after 1926)	Hermosa Beach	1921–1926	Tile	[7]
Raymond Koechlin	Los Angeles	1940s	Art ware	[11]
Rembrant Pottery	Laguna Beach	1930s	Art ware	[11]
Renaker-Brazel	Leucadia	1974–1992	Miniature figurines	[41]
Rhead Pottery	Santa Barbara	1913–1917	Tile	[21]
Ridgewood China	Los Angeles	1940s	Tableware	[36]
Rio Hondo	El Monte	1939-mid-1950s	Figurines	[11][14]
Riverside Ceramics	Riverside County	1946–1947	Zeisel tableware	[51]
Robaul of California	unknown	1940s-1950s	Art ware	[11]
Robert Maxwell Studio	Venice	1960s-1970s	"Robert Maxwell Stoneware" art ware, planters, figurines	[52]
Robert Simmons	Costa Mesa	1940s-1950s	Giftware & figurines	[4]
Robertson/Hollywood Pottery	Los Angeles	1934–1952	Art ware
Robyn Ceramics	Fallbrook, after 1955 Idyllwild	1940s-1950s	Figurines	[11]
Rose S. Shep	Seal Beach	1948–1963	Tableware, giftware, planters, & lamps	[12]
The Rose Crown China Co.	Pasadena	1940s	Giftware	[30]
Roselane Pottery	Pasadena	1938–1977	Giftware, art ware & figurines	[4]
Ross	Laguna Beach, then Hawthorne	1940s	Figurines	[11]
Rothman Stoneware	Los Angeles	1971–1982	"Rothwoman" kitchenware, & tableware	[20]
Roy John of Wilmar California	Wilmar	1940s	Figurines	[42]
Rumph	unknown	1960s-1970s	Art ware & mugs	[11]
Saar	Lawndale, then El Segundo	1950–1962	Art ware, tableware, & giftware	[11]
San Vallé Tile Kilns	Los Angeles	1952-unknown	Tableware	[14]
Santa Anita	Los Angeles	1940s-1950s	Tableware & kitchenware	[4]
Santa Barbara Ceramic Design	Santa Barbara	1976-unknown	Giftware & art ware	[14]
Sascha Brastoff Ceramics	Los Angeles	1947–1963	Tableware, art ware, & figurines	[53]
Sasha Studios (Sasha Katchamakoff)	Los Angeles	1950s	Figurines	[11]
Sierra Vista Ceramics	Sierra Vista, after 1951 Phoenix, Arizona	1942–1958	Cookie jars & giftware	[12][14]
S-Squire Ceramics	Los Angeles	1943–1950	Giftware & figurines	[4]
Southern California Ceramic Company/California Art Products, Inc.	Santa Monica/Los Angeles	1945–1953	"Orchard" "Hollywood Ware" tableware	[14]
Southern California Clay Products (California Clay Products after 1923)	Vernon	1917–1923	Chemical stoneware	[2]
Southern California Coal and Clay Company (Pacific Sewer Pipe Company after 1910)	Lake Elsinore	1886–1910	Sewer pipe	[37]
Starnes (Walter Starnes)	Los Angeles	1952–1954	Tableware	[14]
Stewart B. McCulloch	unknown	1940s	Figurines & art ware	[11]
Sunshine Ceramics of Los Angeles	Los Angeles	1940s	Giftware	[33]
Susi Singer	Pasadena	1935–1955	Figurines	[11]
Sy Alan Designs	Canoga Park	unknown	Lamps	[40]
Sylvan Ceramics	Pasadena	1943-	art ware	[12]
Sylvia Hood Designs	Pasadena	1960–1965	Figurines	[14]
Taylor Tilery	Santa Monica	1930–1941	Tile	[21]
Tony Hill-Wilmer James	Los Angeles	late 40s-early 50s	Art ware	[11]
Treasure Craft – Pottery Craft	Gardena and South Gate, then Compton	1955–1995	Giftware, kitchenware, & figurines	[54]
Triangle Studios (Vallona Starr Ceramics)	Los Angeles/El Monte	1930–1953	Novelty giftware, kitchenware & art ware	[4]
Tropico Potteries (Gladding, McBean & Co. after 1923)	Los Angeles	1921–1923	Tile, architectural terra cotta & sewer pipe	[21]
Tudor Art Tile Company (Tudor Potteries)	Los Angeles	1927–1939	Tile, art ware, garden ware & figurines	[21]
Twin Winton	Pasadena, then San Juan Capistrano	1936–1975	Giftware, kitchenware, & figurines	[4]
Vadna of California	Leucadia	1940s-1950s	Tableware & art ware	[11]
Valentien Pottery Company	San Diego	1911–1913	Art pottery	[10]
Valley Vista Ceramics	Los Angeles	1946–1962	Giftware	[20]
Vally Werner	Los Angeles	1940s	Art ware	[4]
Van Straaton Company	Santa Monica	1940s	Art ware	[38]
Vee Jackson	San Gabriel then Pasadena	1946–1976	Giftware	[11]
Vessel USA Inc.	San Diego	1998–present	Planters	[55]
Victoria Ceramics	San Juan Capistrano	1940s	Figurines	[48]
Vitrefrax Company	Los Angeles	unknown	Insulators	[25]
Vohann of California	Laguna Beach/Capistrano Beach/San Clemente	1950–present	Art ware & giftware	[4][56]
Wade Ceramics	North Hollywood	1965–1967	Art ware & kitchenware	[14]
Walker Potteries	Monrovia	1945–1952	Figurines	[14][57]
Walker-Renaker	Monrovia	1952–1959	Figurines	[57]
Wallace China Company	Huntington Park	1931–1964	Restaurant ware	[4]
Walter Wilson	Pasadena	1943–1954	Giftware & figurines	[14]
Weil of California (California Figurine Company prior to 1946)	Los Angeles	1946–1955	"Weil Ware" giftware, artware, tableware & figurines	[4]
West Coast Tile Company (American Encaustic Tiling Company after 1919)	Vernon	1914–1919	Tile	[10][21]
West Coast	Burbank	1940s-1950s	Art ware, giftware & figurines	[4]
Western Art Tile Company (Tropico Potteries after 1921)	Los Angeles (Tropico)	early 1904-1920	Tile	[10]
Western Quarry Tiles	Monrovia	1959–present	Garden ware & tile	[24][58]
Whiting-Mead Company	Los Angeles	unknown	Sanitary ware & garden ware	[25]
Wildwood Ceramics	Pasadena	1940s-1950s	Giftware	[11]
Will-George (became The Claysmiths in 1945)	Pasadena	1934–1945	Giftware & figurines	[4]
William Bonzi	Pasadena	1945-1950s	"Bonzi" giftware, artware & tableware	[14]
William Manker Ceramics	Padua Hills – Claremont	1933-late 1950s	Art ware & figurines	[4]
Wilmer James	Los Angeles	1940s	Art ware	[11]
Winfield Pottery – Gabriel Porcelain Pottery	Pasadena	1929–1962	"Winfield" "Gabriel Porcelain" tableware, art ware & figurines	[12]
Winifred Cole of California	Van Nuys	1967-	Giftware	[20]
Wolper Art Studios	Los Angeles	1948-unknown	Tableware & giftware	[14]
Yerbysmith Ceramics	Laguna Beach	1940s	Art ware	[11]
Ynez	Inglewood	1940s-1950s	Figurines	[4]
Yona Ceramics	Los Angeles	1952–1957	Giftware & figurines	[11]

Studio pottery

Main article: Studio pottery

Gallery

Tile

• 
  Batchelder tile, detail on chimney of Batchelder house, Pasadena.
• 
  Paramount Theater tile mural by Gladding, McBean & Co., Oakland.
• 
  Malibu Potteries peacock fountain, Adamson house, Malibu.

Art ware and giftware

• 
  Catalina Clay Products Catalina Pottery art ware vase.
• 
  Gladding, McBean & Co. Catalina Pottery Art Ware head vase.
• 
  Pat and Covey Stewart covered box with lid.
• 
  Karl Roma clock.
• 
  Robertson Hollywood covered jar.
• 
  Brad Keeler Ming Dragon Blood covered ginger jar.
• 
  Bauer Pottery two handled vase by Matt Carlton.

Figurines

• 
  Metlox Manufacturing Company bear figurines.
• 
  Kay Finch Ceramics cocker spaniel dog figurine.
• 
  Jean Manley peasant girl figurine.
• 
  Kay the Potter (Kay Kinney) dog figurine.
• 
  Sorcha Boru deer figurine.
• 
  Copa de Oro (Mary Jane Hart) horse figurine.
• 
  California Figurine Company Weil Ware girl figurines.
• 
  Freeman McFarlin burro figurines by Kay Finch.
• 
  Jane Fauntz baby and sitting boy figurines.
• 
  Pixie Potters Millesan Drews Pixies by Millicent Andrews.
• 
  Susi Singer lady figurine.
• 
  Hardie-Arnita dog figurines.
• 
  Beth Barton bug band figurines.
• 
  Marc Bellaire dancer figurine.
• 
  Robert Simmons zebra figurines.
• 
  Brayton Laguna purple bull, cow, and calf figurines based on the poem Purple Cow by Gelett Burgess.
• 
  Sascha Brastoff Merbaby figurine.
• 
  Joy Thompson spring and autumn figurines.
• 
  Jaru Art Products cubist rabbit.

Tableware

• 
  Gladding, McBean & Co. Franciscan ware Wild Flowers pattern pitcher.
• 
  Metlox Poppytrail covered tureen.
• 
  Monterey Jade teapot.
• 
  Heath Ceramics covered canister.
• 
  Environmental Ceramics chicken bakeware by Win Ng.

Footnotes

1. Stiles, Helen E. (1941). Pottery in the United States. New York: E.P. Dutton & Co., Inc. pp. 140.
2. California Heritage Museum (2003). Joseph A. Taylor (ed.). California Tile: The Golden Era 1910–1940: Acme to Handcraft. Atglen, Penn.: Schiffer Publishing LTD. ISBN 0-7643-1942-6.
3. "A Brave New Label Figurines, Made in U.S.A.". Ceramic Industry. October 1944.
4. Chipman, Jack (1999). California Pottery. Paducah, Kentucky: Collector Books. ISBN 1-57432-037-8.
5. "Colored Pottery, California Manufacturers Lead the World in Beauty of Design and Coloring". California Magazine of Pacific Business: 16. September 1937.
6. "Gladding, McBean LLC". Retrieved 10 July 2011.
7. Gibbs, Carl (2001). Collector's Encyclopedia of Metlox Potteries: Identification and Values, Second Edition. Paducah, KY: Collector Books. ISBN 1-57432-224-9.
8. "Pacific Clay Products". Retrieved 10 July 2011.
9. Nelson, Maxine F (2003). Collectible Vernon Kilns. Paducah, KY: Collector Books. ISBN 1-57432-370-9.
10. Trapp, Kenneth (1994). Arts and Crafts Movement in California, The: Living the Good Life. New York: Abbeville Publishing Group.
11. Chipman, Jack (2005). California Pottery Scrapbook. Paducah, Kentucky: Collector Books. ISBN 1-57432-407-1.
12. Bray, Hazel V. (1980). The Potter's Art in California: 1885-1955. Oakland, California: The Oakland Museum Art Department.
13. Morse, R. Neil (2006). California Pottery Company Merced. Merced, CA: Merced Historical Society. ISBN 0-9729318-4-8.
14. Lehner, Lois (1988). Lehner's Encyclopedia Of US Marks On Pottery, Porcelain Clay. Paducah, KY: Collector Books. ISBN 0-89145-365-2.
15. Mosier, Dan L., and Williams, Earle E., History of Tesla, A California Coal Mining Town, Mines Road Books, Fremont, CA, 2002.
16. Pasadena Art Museum (1968). California Design/Ten. Pasadena, CA: Pasadena Art Museum.
17. Pasquali, Jim (1999). Sanford's Guide to Garden City Pottery: A Hidden Treasure of Northern California. Adelmore Press. ISBN 0-9633531-5-2.
18. "Handcraft Tiles History". Retrieved 13 July 2011.
19. "Hans Sumpf Closes". E-News from the Tile Heritage.
20. Derwich, Jenny B. and Mary Latos (1984). Dictionary Guide to United States Pottery and Porcelain: Ninth and Twentieth Century. Franklin, Michigan: Jenstan. ISBN 0-9612624-0-0.
21. California Heritage Museum (2003). Joseph A. Taylor (ed.). California Tile: The Golden Era 1910–1940: Hispano-Moresque to Woolenius. Atglen, Penn: Schiffer Publishing LTD. ISBN 0-7643-1943-4.
22. "Panama Pottery". Retrieved 14 July 2011.
23. Pasadena Art Museum (1976). California Design 76, A Bicentennial Celebration. Pasadena, CA: Pasadena Art Museum.
24. Pasadena Art Museum (1962). California Design/Eight. Pasadena, CA: Pasadena Art Museum.
25. Dietrich, Waldemar Fenn (1928). "The Clay Resources and the Ceramic Industry of California". California State Mining Bureau (Bulletin No. 99). Retrieved 16 July 2011.
26. "UCLA Special Collections - Finding Aid for the Max and Rita Lawrence Architectural Pottery Records, ca. 1950-1994". OAC Online Archive of California. Retrieved 12 July 2011.
27. Chipman, Jack (2003). Barbara Willis: Classic California Modernism. JaBa Books. ISBN 0-9727430-0-6.
28. "Bauer Pottery of Los Angeles". Retrieved 10 July 2011.
29. Gordon, Maddy (2007). Head Vases Etc.: The Artistry of Betty Lou Nichols. Atglen, Penn.: Schiffer Publishing, Ltd. ISBN 978-0-7643-1490-2.
30. Tufft, J. Edward (August 1947). "Art Ware Pottery Gossip from Southern California". Ceramic Industry.
31. "California Pottery and Tile Works". Retrieved 16 July 2011.
32. Fridley, A.W. (1977). Catalina Pottery, The Early Years 1927–1937. Costa Mesa, California: Rainbow Publishing.
33. Tufft, J. Edward (June 1946). "Art Ware Gossip from Southern California". Ceramic Industry.
34. Classic Terra Cotta Company
35. Humphries, John, Joanne Schaefer and Ralph Schaefer (1997). Delee Art: The Pictorial Story of a California Artist and Her Company. S&S Books. ISBN 0-9655422-0-3.
36. Tufft, J. Edward (October 1949). "Art Ware Gossip From Southern California". Ceramic Industry.
37. Snyder, Jeffrey B. (2000). Pacific Pottery, Tableware from the 1920s, '30s, and '40s...and more!. Atglen, Penn.: Schiffer Pub Ltd. ISBN 0-7643-1276-6.
38. Tufft, J. Edward (May 1947). "Art Ware Gossip from Southern California". Ceramic Industry.
39. Kline, Barbara S., Margaret C. Wehrspaun, and Jerry Kline (2002). The Complete Book of Florence Ceramics. Atglen, Penn.: Schiffer Publishing Ltd. ISBN 0-7643-1528-5.
40. Pasadena Art Museum (1965). California Design/Nine. Pasadena, CA: Pasadena Art Museum.
41. Kelly, Nancy (2001). Hagen-Renaker through the Years. Atglen, Penn.: Schiffer+publishing Ltd. ISBN 0-7643-1385-1.
42. Tufft, J. Edward (January 1946). "Artware Pottery Gossip from Southern California". Ceramic Industry.
43. "About H.F. Coors China". Archived from the original on 2011-09-26. Retrieved 10 July 2011.
44. Tufft, J. Edward (June 1944). "News of the Whiteware Industry". Ceramic Industry.
45. Dommel, Darlene Hurst (1997). Collector's Encyclopedia of Howard Pierce Porcelain: Identification and Values. Paducah, KY: Collector Books. ISBN 1-57432-019-X.
46. Whitaker, Jim and Kaye Whitaker (1999). Josef Originals: Figurines of Muriel Joseph George. Atglen, Penn.: Schiffer Publishing LTD. ISBN 0-7643-1049-6.
47. Nickel, Mike and Cindy Horvath (2000). Kay Finch: Ceramics. Atglen, Penn.: Schiffer Publishing Ltd. ISBN 0-7643-0008-3.
48. Tufft, J. Edward (October 1945). Ceramic Industry. Missing or empty |title= (help)
49. Malibu Ceramic Works
50. Torrance Press. - September 4, 1952
51. Eidelberg, Martin (1984). Eva Zeisel Designer for Industry. Musee Des Arts Decoratifs De Montreal. pp. 44–45. ISBN 0-226-19473-6.
52. "Robert Maxwell Pottery". Retrieved 12 July 2011.
53. Conti, Steve, A. Dewayne Bethany, Bill Seay (1995). Collector's Encyclopedia of Sascha Brastoff: Identification & Values. Paducah, KY: Collector Books. ISBN 0-89145-647-3.
54. Higby, George A. (2004). Treasure Craft & Pottery Craft Stoneware: California & Hawaii's Last Major Pottery. Atglen, Penn.: Schiffer Publishing LTD. ISBN 0-7643-2072-6.
55. "Architectural Pottery Vessel USA". Retrieved 10 July 2011.
56. "Vohann of California". Archived from the original on 10 July 2011. Retrieved 10 July 2011.
57. Roller, Gayle, Kathleen Rose, Joan Berkwitz (1989). The Hagen-Renaker Handbook.
58. "Western Quarry Tiles". Archived from the original on 2011-02-25. Retrieved 15 July 2011.

Further reading

• Derwich, Jenny B. and Mary Latos. Dictionary Guide to United States Pottery and Porcelain: Ninth and Twentieth Century. Jenstan, Franklin, Michigan (1984) ISBN 0-9612624-0-0
• Chipman, Jack. Collector's Encyclopedia of California Pottery. Collector Books, Paducah, Kentucky (1999) ISBN 1-57432-037-8
• Chipman, Jack. California Pottery Scrapbook. Collector Books, Paducah, Kentucky (2004) ISBN 1-57432-407-1
• Lehner, Lois. Lehner's Encyclopedia Of US Marks On Pottery, Porcelain Clay. Collectors Books, Paducah, Kentucky (1988) ISBN 978-0-89145-365-9
• Schneider, Mike. California Potteries, The Complete Book. Schiffer Publishing, Atglen, Pennsylvania (1995) ISBN 0-88740-877-X
• Stern, Bill. California Pottery: From Missions to Modernism. Chronicle Books (2001) ISBN 0-8118-3068-3
• The California Heritage Museum, Joseph A. Taylor ed. California Tile: The Golden Era 1910-1940: Acme to Handcraft. Schiffer Publishing LTD, Atglen, Pennsylvania (2003) ISBN 0-7643-1942-6
• The California Heritage Museum, Joseph A. Taylor ed. California Tile: The Golden Era 1910-1940: Hispano-Moresque to Woolenius. Schiffer Publishing LTD, Atglen, Pennsylvania (2003) ISBN 0-7643-1943-4