On display

Vase

ca. 1901-1910 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

The American Terra Cotta & Ceramic Co. (sometimes known as the Gates Pottery after its founder, lawyer William Day Gates) was established in 1886 in the town of Terra Cotta, 45 miles north west of Chicago, Illinois. The company made sewer pipes and bricks mostly using local clays. It began 'art pottery' from about 1895 and first sold these wares in quantity from 1901. Two of Gates' four sons, and Elmer E.Gorton were graduates of the ceramics department, Ohio State University. Gates himself and several friends in the architectural profession all contributed designs for shapes. This small vase is an extremely modest example but does have the distinctive matt green glaze known as 'Teco Green'. The pottery sold its art line under the name Teco Pottery, 'Teco' being a derivation of the first letters of Terra and Cotta.

Object details

Categories
Object type
Materials and techniques
Semi-porcelain with coloured glaze
Brief description
Vase of white porcelain, pear-shaped with a small mouth and flattened base, covered with an opaque turquoise green glaze, made by Gates Pottery, Chicago, early 20th century.
Physical description
Vase of white semi-porcelain, pear-shaped with a small mouth and flattened base, covered with an opaque turquoise green glaze.
Dimensions
  • Height: 8.3cm
  • Diameter: 4.1cm
Marks and inscriptions
'F' (?) incised (Not a standard mark for the pottery)
Credit line
Given by Herman Hart, Esq. in memory of his wife
Summary
The American Terra Cotta & Ceramic Co. (sometimes known as the Gates Pottery after its founder, lawyer William Day Gates) was established in 1886 in the town of Terra Cotta, 45 miles north west of Chicago, Illinois. The company made sewer pipes and bricks mostly using local clays. It began 'art pottery' from about 1895 and first sold these wares in quantity from 1901. Two of Gates' four sons, and Elmer E.Gorton were graduates of the ceramics department, Ohio State University. Gates himself and several friends in the architectural profession all contributed designs for shapes. This small vase is an extremely modest example but does have the distinctive matt green glaze known as 'Teco Green'. The pottery sold its art line under the name Teco Pottery, 'Teco' being a derivation of the first letters of Terra and Cotta.
Bibliographic reference
Evans, Paul: Art Pottery in the United States, 1974, pp.278-281
Collection
Accession number
C.940-1917

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Record createdOctober 10, 2008
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