The Watt Pottery Company

As most antique collectors know, a large amount of popular art pottery came from Ohio’s vast natural reserves of clay. Rookwood, Roseville and McCoy are just a few of the names associated with the area. Another popular pottery company was the Watt Pottery Company. Most collectors think of their “apple” line of ovenware that was possibly the most popular line they produced.

The company started in 1922 in Crooksville, Ohio, making stoneware jugs and crocks. Most of those pieces were marked with eagle or acorn marks in blue and the number of gallons held within a circle. The factory they used had been formerly known as the Burley Pottery Company.

As more homes got electricity and refrigeration, the company switched to ovenware, which was produced from a lighter clay and was strong enough to be taken from the icebox directly to the stove. The early ovenware was not marked, but in the early 1940s the words “oven ware,” “made in the USA” or simply the bowl size were. Early patterns included solid colored pieces like Moon and Stars, Diamonds and Grooves, Arcs or Loops.

In 1949 Watt began to produce a series of hand-painted kitchenware that had a simple country design. They kept it simple so that production could increase as the design was quickly applied by workers using bright colors on pottery with an ivory background. 1949 through 1953 was the heyday of the Watt pottery. Patterns produced during this time have remained wildly popular with collectors.

Those same popular patterns were also stamped with advertising for different stores and companies across the country and are sometimes singled out with collectors who enjoy vintage pottery as well as advertising collectibles.

The names of these most prized pieces are called apple, cherry, rooster, dogwood, American Redbud and double apple. Since the designs were hand-painted, no two are exactly alike. They are not high quality like Roseville and often have glaze cracks and bubbles, which to me just gives them more character.

Sadly, the factory burned down in 1965, which makes Watt pottery even more collectible. It has not been reproduced anywhere to my knowledge. Here are a few samples with replacement values: Watt pottery apple grease jar $700, #39 apple spaghetti bowl, $95, Dutch tulip #5 mixing bowl, $115.

Happy Collecting!

Jillinda Falen has been buying and selling antiques for over 30 years. She is a licensed REALTOR and estate liquidation specialist. You can contact here through the Houston Home Journal or via email at jcfalen@gmail.com.

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