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collectors, vibrantly colored California pottery is one of the
most popular collecting disciplines of the last ten years, and
perhaps none is as highly desired as Bauer Pottery. The story
of Bauer didn't begin in California however, but rather in Paducah,
Kentucky where J. Andy Bauer ran a ceramics factory which manufactured
stoneware crocks, jugs, whiskey jugs, and pitchers. During the
early years, the factory evolved to produce an ever more decorative
variety of kitchenware and inexpensive ceramics for the home such
as redware versions of the crocks, jugs, and pitchers produced
earlier but also decorative vases, a popular line of flower pots,
milk jugs, mixing bowls, and other utilitarian pieces common in
American homes. Bauer's work was sold mostly in the Midwest from
his base in Kentucky, for cost effective transcontinental distribution
networks were still in their infancy. Sensing the limitations
of this geographic dependency and thinking the California climate
would be beneficial to his asthma, Andy Bauer opened a second
manufacturing facility in Los Angeles, California in 1909. This
was an area similar to the Zanesville area of Ohio, where there
were groupings of talented potters and designers to draw upon.
Los Angeles had the benefit of being the western terminus of the
transcontinental rail lines, but it also offered inspiration in
the emerging American Arts
& Crafts movement. Bauer produced designs reflecting this
new design aesthetic, and in 1916 they introduced a new line of
hand thrown art pottery mostly in a matte green glaze reminiscent
of Grueby
ceramics. As California grew, so did Bauer pottery which sold
their wares both at retail as well as wholesale to garden centers
and nurseries.
After Andy Bauer died and was succeeded
by Louis Ipsen, Ipsen designed the Bauer Ringware line, incorporating concentric
circles, or "rings", into a form that could be mass produced and sold at
modest prices. Ringware was sold in a vibrant rainbow of colors and contrasted
markedly from primarily white dinnerware common during the period and reminiscent
of colorful Fiestaware
which followed 7 years later and was designed by Frederick H. Rhead for
the Homer Laughlin Company. Bauer pioneered innovations in glazing and
ceramics manufacturing which they used to create the vibrant colors of
Ringware, capitalizing on the talents of engineer Victor Houser who joined
the firm in 1928 and revolutionized Bauer manufacturing techniques.
They produced hundreds of pieces to complement any table setting including
plates and bowls of various sizes, cookie jars, oil jars, pitchers, teapots,
mixing bowls, and table accessories. Many talented artists and designers
created lines for Bauer over the years, with the most famous lines in addition
to Ringware being Russel Wright, Fred Johnson, Speckleware, Monterey, Matt
Carlton, Tracy Irwin, Gloss Pastel, Atlanta, Garden Ware, and Cal Art.
Bauer survived the years
of the depression where many other early 20th century manufacturers
did not, maintaining tight cost controls and efficient production
methods to be able to price their wares affordably. The Bauer
lines and innovation blossomed in the 1930s with their California
lines, most of which incorporated textural variation with natural
glazes in all the colors of the rainbow. Bauer pottery was noteworthy
for its design but also sturdy in form, making it perfect for
both indoor use as well as outdoor picnics and gatherings. In
the 1940s, Bauer opened a plant in Atlanta, Georgia where art
pottery for their famous Russell Wright line was produced. Bauer
had many imitators which are now collected in their own
right such as Metlox
and Vernon Kilns, but Fiesta achieved the most success of all
through the marketing savvy of Homer Laughlin. Only about 50%
of Bauer pottery was marked, so there are a number of pieces
on the market which are period authentic but unmarked. There
are also a significant number of reproductions, but Bauer is
easily recognizable to dealers familiar with their work. Marks
they used included "Bauer" and "Bauer Los Angeles" used in the
20s and earlier and "Bauer Made in USA" or "Bauer USA" on works
produced in the 1930s.
Ever been fooled by
a fake or a seller that didn't deliver the goods as described?
At Collectics, we authenticate and stand behind everything we sell, at
prices "30% below your local antique shop" according
to Collectibles Guide 2008. Please browse our main Antiques
& Collectibles Mall to find a treat for yourself or
a great gift for others, all with free shipping. Thanks!
Buy
period Bauer Pottery, Franciscan, Hull, Weller, Roseville, Rookwood, Frankoma,
Van Briggle, Fiestaware, Metlox, and more on the Collectics Pottery
and Kitchenware pages,
or search the entire site for great antiques,
collectibles, and crafts for every collector!
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