CATALINA POTTERY
CATALINA POTTERY
The Early Years: 1927-1932
In 1927, the Catalina Island Pottery and Tile Factory was established by William Wrigley, Jr. as a practical endeavor to build the Island’s resort town of Avalon with bricks and roofing tiles made from local clay deposits, while also providing year-round work for its residents. In the early years, the factory developed molds and produced pottery pieces, which were made using the island’s native red clay. From late 1929, to about November of 1933, they produced pottery pieces #1 to #165, which were made primarily using the island’s native red clay. To add strength to the products, in 1932 white clay from the mainland was imported and combined with the island's red clay. Soon thereafter only white clay was used.
According to Carole Coates: "White clay was imported in later years but other than for molded pieces and dinnerware which required a fine slip, Island clay varied in color from deep brick red, to medium, brownish, and even buff light clay. Some of this was even mixed with mainland clay. The demise of the pottery came about much more because of the Depression than about the “cost” of importing white clay."
Glazes were made with local minerals mined on the Island. Some early colors were given island-related names such as Catalina Blue, Toyon Red and Descanso Green, in addition to Black, White, Mandarin Yellow (Manchu) and Monterey Brown.
One of the most rare of all the Catalina Pottery dinnerware pieces is the Tortilla Warmer with its raised design lid (10 inches wide x 3 inches tall). Only a handful are known to exist—one of which is in the Stern Collection.
The Middle Years: 1932-1937
In 1933, Detroit artist, Walter Speck (1896-1979), visited the island. Best known for his WPA mural, "Ford Riot", Speck was inspired to draw the Catalina Clay Products factory outside of Avalon. His signed watercolor is also in the Stern Collection.
The last price list was issued November 1, 1936. Colors were referred to by number:<br Catalina Blue (No. 1); Descanso Green (No. 2); Toyon Red (No. 3); Mandarin Yellow (No. 4); Monterey Brown (No. 5); Pearly White (No. 6); Turquoise (No. 7); Wine/Burgundy (No. 8); Flesh/Beige (No. 9); Powder Blue (No. 10); Colonial Yellow (No. 11); and Coral Island (No. 12). Toyon red glaze was always priced at an additional 10%.
The Catalina Gladding McBean Years: 1937-1942
In 1937, Catalina Clay Products, including all equipment, stock, molds, and trademarks, was sold by the Catalina Island Company to Gladding, McBean & Co. (est. 1875), and operations were moved to Glendale. All their pieces used white clay. They branched out into specialty line production and few molds from Catalina Clay Products were ever used. They bought the good name, Catalina, while eliminating a competitor.
Catalina-marked pieces, "Catalina Pottery," were produced for about five years. By February 1, 1941 Gladding-McBean & Co. segregated the entire line of tableware under the general name of Franciscan Ware and all art pottery under the name of Catalina Ware. A decade after Gladding, McBean & Co. acquired the molds and rights to the Catalina name, they ceased Catalina Ware production and returned the use of the trademark to the Santa Catalina Island Company as required by their original purchase.
Weil Ware: (1946-1955)
Max Weil began the California Figurine Company (1941-1946) during WWII. He may have been a former Gladding McBean employee, and he bought discontinued Catalina line molds from them around 1945. Thus some Catalina molds were used by multiple companies, hence the same shapes, but in different glazes and marks are found. Weil pieces are stamped with a logo that includes a burro, and are twice removed from Santa Catalina Island pottery. Weil died in 1954, and former Gladding McBean employees Frederick and Mary Grant took over his short-lived business, which closed in 1955.
TRANSCENDING PIECES:
Precious few Catalina Clay Products molds transcended from Island to Gladding McBean and beyond. Few have been identified thus far.
- Santa Catalina Island Pottery: Island Red Clay (1927-1933)
- Santa Catalina Island Pottery: White Clay Imported (1932-1937)
CATALINA POTTERY BIBLIOGRAPHY IN SCIF ARCHIVES
Santa Catalina Island Pottery: Island Red Clay (1927-1933)
#2. Plate: Coupe
Catalina Blue
8"
SCIF. Bill Stern Collection
#5. Plate: Coupe
Pearly White
11"
SCIF. Bill Stern Collection
#5. Plate: Coupe
Catalina Blue
11"
SCIF. Bill Stern Collection
#7. Plate: Rimmed. Bread & Butter
Pearly White
7-¼""
SCIF. Bill Stern Collection
#30-C. Plate: Rolled edge
Toyon Red
6"
SCIF. Bill Stern Collection
#30-C. Plates: Rolled edge
Monterey Brown
6"
SCIF. Bill Stern Collection
#30-C. Plate: Rolled edge
Mandarin Yellow
6"
SCIF. Bill Stern Collection
#30-D. Plate: Rolled edge
Mandarin Yellow
8"
SCIF. Bill Stern Collection
#30-D. Plate: Rolled edge
Toyon Red
8"
SCIF. Bill Stern Collection
#30-E. Plate: Rolled edge
Monterey Brown
10"
SCIF. Bill Stern Collection
#35. Tumblers, water, no handle, swirled
Toyon Red, Descanso Green
4"
SCIF. Bill Stern Collection
#37. Cup: Tumbler, wine, no handle
Mandarin Yellow; Catalina Blue
2-½" W x 2-½" T
SCIF. Bill Stern Collection
#39. Mug: Coffee, single-handled
Catalina Blue
4" T x 2-⅞ W
SCIF. Bill Stern Collection
#40. Saucer: For flower pot, "dog dish"
Sea Foam
2-¼" T x 9" W
This one extra deep.
SCIF. Bill Stern Collection
#41. Mug: Demitasse, coffee, single-handled
2-½" T x 2-½" W
SCIF. Bill Stern Collection
#46-A. Vase: Oil Jar, slug bowl with snake ridges
Catalina Blue
7" T x 7" W
SCIF. Bill Stern Collection
#59. Creamer: Individual bridge type
"CATALINA 59"
Turquoise
3-¾" W x 2-½" T
SCIF. Bill Stern Collection
#60. Sugar Bowl. Individual bridge type
"CATALINA 60"
Turquoise
4" W x 2-¼" T
SCIF. Bill Stern Collection
#60 & #59. Sugar Bowl and Creamer:
Individual bridge type
"CATALINA 60" and "CATALINA 59"
Descanso green
4" W x 2-¼" T
[original in SCIF archives]
#107. Coffee Carafe with wood handle and lid
Toyon Red
8-¼" T x 7" W
SCIF. Bill Stern Collection
#107. Coffee Carafe with wood handle and lid
Catalina Blue
8-¼" T x 7" W
SCIF. Bill Stern Collection
#108. Coffee Carafe: Arabesque, deco
(missing handle/lid)
Catalina Blue
9-½" T
SCIF. Bill Stern Collection
#112-A. Pot: Flower, flared top, with rings
Turquoise
5" T x 4-¾" W
SCIF. Bill Stern Collection
#128. Tortilla Warmer: raised design on top
Sea Foam
10-½" W x 3" T
SCIF. Bill Stern Collection
#137. Tumbler: Georgian with diamond bottom
Turquoise, Cream, Descanso Green
4-½ T x 3" W
SCIF. Bill Stern Collection
#145A. Creamer: Punch Cup style
Catalina Blue
2" T x 3" W
SCIF. Bill Stern Collection
#160. Shrimp Compote 3 pc. bowl; ring; Heisey glass liner,
c. 1935
Turquoise, Descanso Green, Monterey Brown,
Sea Foam, Catalina Blue
3" T x 5" W
SCIF. Bill Stern Collection
#614. Vase. Fancy bottom.
"CATALINA 614"
Catalina Blue
6" T x 3" W
[original in SCIF archives]
#624. Vase
"CATALINA ISLAND 624"
Toyon Red
5" T x 3-¾" W
[original in SCIF archives]
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Santa Catalina Island Pottery: White Clay Imported (1932-1937)
#166 & #167. Salt Shaker & Pepper Shaker:
Gourd, small rounded foot and multiple holes
Flesh/Beige
2-¼" T x 2-½ W
SCIF. Bill Stern Collection
#171. Cruet: Gourd, vinegar (no stopper)
Catalina Blue
6" T x 2-¾" W
SCIF. Bill Stern Collection
#172. Tooth Pick Holder
Toyon Red
3-¼" L x 2" D x 1-¼" T
SCIF. Bill Stern Collection
#232. Bowl: Shallow fluted scalloped
Descanso Green
10" W x 1-⅜" T
SCIF. Bill Stern Collection
Transcending Pieces from Catalina Clay Products ("Island") to California Pottery (Gladding McBean) to Weil Ware (Max Weil (1945-1955)
C-202
Oval Bowl (Avalon Art Ware; Aurora Art Ware; Catalina Art Ware)
Catalina Pottery, Gladding McBean
white/turquoise
10" x 15"
[original in SCIF archives]
[202]
Weil Ware
[original in SCIF archives]
#219
Tray: Leaf
Monterey Brown on White Clay
15"
Catalina Clay Products
1934 price list = #152
Austin Collection
#219
Tray: Leaf
Toyon Red
14"
Catalina Clay Products
Jerry Kunz Collection
#C-219
Leaf Tray
Green
15"
Catalina Pottery (Gladding McBean)
[original in SCIF archives]
#C-219
Leaf Tray
Catalina Pottery (Gladding McBean)
220
Leaf
Weil Ware
234
Scalloped plate
Gladding McBean C-234 14-½" blue/pink
to Weil Ware 13" blue/flesh
