The Metlox Pottery company was established in 1927 by T.C. and Willis Prouty in Manhattan Beach, California. Their original business plan was to make ceramic outdoor signs but, due to the Great Depression and the death of T.C., they switched to producing ceramic dinnerware. Later they moved into producing colorful ceramic collectibles as well as decorative dinnerware. Often their designs incorporated the California state flower, the poppy. Here are some examples of their work…
The name of the company, Metlox, came from combining the terms metal and oxide, the main components of the locally mined glaze pigments they used. When they decided to go beyond just dinnerware in the late 1930′s they hired designer Carl Romanelli. Under his guidance, the company began selling various miniatures and other ceramic household doodads such as vases, figurines, bookends and such. After WWII, Willis Prouty sold the company to Evan Shaw, the owner of American Pottery. Under his leadership in 1946 the company obtained a contract with Disney for ceramic figurines. This contract lasted until 1956. During the same time, they introduced their California Ivy line, their painted dinnerware. In the 1960′s, they introduced their Colorstax line, a solid color dinnerware, the Poppet line of ceramic miniatures as well as stoneware flower holders and planters. In 1958, the company purchased the Vernon Kiln and incorporated their artware lines, primarily a scale model carriage line. Evan Shaw died in 1980 and the company continued for a few more years, eventually shutting down production in 1988.
Some of Metlox’s most popular dinnerware lines include Poppytrail, Nostalgia, Red Rooster, California Provincial, Provincial Blue, Colonial Homestead, Homestead Provincial and Colorstax. The model carriage line is also very collectible. Prices for vintage Metlox pieces in great condition have been increasing steadily since 1990 where today you’ll often see selling prices well over $100 for unique and highly desirable examples. Perhaps the most valuable are chicken shaped tureens. I’ve seen recent prices for ones in excellent condition exceed $1000.
Any questions about Metlox collectibles? If so, please feel free to ask below.
By Nancy on April 29th, 2012 under Dinnerware
Tags: American Pottery, artware, California Ivy, Carl Romanelli, ceramic, Colorstax, Disney, Evan Shaw, Poppet, Willis Prouty | No Comments »