Pacific Clay
 | |
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1892 |
| Headquarters | Los Angeles, California , USA |
| Products | Brick |
| Owner | David H. Murdock |
| Website | www.pacificclay.com |
Pacific Clay Products, founded 1892, was created by the merger of several Southern California potteries. The company began producing utilitarian pottery in the 1920s, and introduced solid color earthenware dinnerware in 1932. The primary site for the production of ceramic tableware, kitchenware, and art ware was based in the company's Lincoln Heights, Los Angeles plant at 306 West Avenue 26.[1] Pacific Pottery ceased production of ceramic dinnerware and art ware in 1942. It continues to exist as a producer of bricks. The company has been owned by David H. Murdock since 1973.
History
Pacific Clay Products was one of the "Big Five" Southern California potteries in the production of ceramic tableware, kitchenware, and art wares from 1930 to 1942. The "Big Five"[2] Southern California potteries were Metlox, Vernon Kilns, Gladding, McBean & Co., J.A. Bauer Pottery, and Pacific Clay Products.
Early pottery products manufactured in the 1920s were utilitarian ware including bowls, mugs, and poultry feeders. The company also produced hand-thrown vases and garden ware pots. In 1932, Pacific introduced mix and match brightly solid colored tableware and art ware. The solid-colored tableware was sold as "Hostessware." In 1935, Pacific introduced hand-painted patterns on the Hostessware shape in various plaid, floral, and fruit designs. By 1937, Pacific introduced the Coralitos and Arcadia lines, a more delicate earthenware body in solid colors. In 1941, hand-painted patterns on the Coralitos and Arcadia shapes were introduced: Grape, Strawberry, Hibiscus, French Ivy, and Shasta Daisy.
Pacific Clay Products' art ware lines were introduced around 1932.[3] The art ware lines, marketed as Pacific Pottery, included a wide variety of shapes for vases, figurines, flower bowls, candleholders, planters and flower frogs for the retail and florist trade.
In October of 1942, all dinnerware and art ware was discontinued due to World War II as the company retooled for the production of war materials for the United States government. Pacific Clay Products never produced tableware or art ware again.
References
- ^ Snyder, Jeffrey B. (2000). Pacific Pottery: Tableware from the 1920s, '30s, and '40s...and more!. Atlgen, Penn.: Schiffer Pub Ltd. ISBN 0764312766.
- ^ "Colored Pottery, California Manufacturers Lead the World in Beauty of Design and Coloring". California Magazine of Pacific Business: 16. 1937.
{{cite journal}}: Unknown parameter|month=ignored (help) - ^ Chipman, Jack (1999). Collector's Encyclopedia of California Pottery. Paducah, KY: Collector Books. pp. 193–206. ISBN 1574320378.
Books
- Chipman, Jack. Collectors Encyclopedia of California Pottery, Second Edition. Collector Books (1998) ISBN 1574320378
- Chipman, Jack. California Pottery Scrapbook: Identification and Value Guide. Collector Books (2004) ISBN 1574324071
- Snyder, Jeffrey B. Pacific Pottery, Tableware from the 1920s, '30s, '40s ...and more! Schiffer Pub Ltd (2000) ISBN 0764312766
- Stern, Bill. California Pottery: From Missions to Modernism Chronicle Books (2001) ISBN 0811830683
External links
- Pacific Clay Products Note: Company records or archives regarding the dinnerware division no longer exist.