©1999-2015
Wisconsin Pottery Association
P.O. Box 705
Madison WI 53701-0705
California Figurals Part II
At the January 11, 2000 WPA meeting, Elaine Staaland entertained the club with her amazing collection of California figural pieces. Due to the wide variety of pieces and potteries represented, my notes from that evening don’t begin to do her presentation justice, but such an inspiring collector as Elaine begs at least an attempt at review of her presentation.
As Elaine told us, modern California ceramic figure production began in the mid-1930s, reaching it’s peak during the mid-1940s. Many small, family-operated companies were formed throughout California. In 1948 the business peaked with >800 ceramic companies in operation. However, many of these businesses closed after the war, when imports reappeared in the U.S. market. By the early 1950s approximately 90 ceramic businesses remained and only 3 firms were left by 1991. Elaine provided a list of 20 potteries for which she showed pieces and/or provided descriptions and histories.
Rather different that a presentation about an early 1900s pottery that began in the functional sanitary porcelain or tile business, these mid-century potteries were all about whimsy and fun. Elaine put it best when she said that every collector should collect something purely for fun. Demonstrating a penchant for fun with collecting is something that Elaine did extremely well during her presentation. If she has the same passion for other collections of pottery/ceramics, we may have some very exciting presentations ahead of us! How about it, Elaine? Thanks for your time and effort in sharing your collection with us.