Cemar Clay Products
Cemar Clay Products was a California pottery operating between 1935 and 1955.[1] Cemar's art pottery products, including tableware, are sought-after collectables today.
History[edit]
Cemar was founded by Cliff J. Malone and Paul Cauldwell, two former employees of the well-established (J.A.) Bauer Pottery. Cemar Pottery, like Bauer, was based in Los Angeles, California.[2] Cemar was part of the larger boom in California pottery during the World War II era when pottery imports from Asia were restricted or banned; a variety of potteries operated in California to keep up with domestic demand. Cemar was one of 13 members of the California Pottery Guild in 1952.[3]
Cemar's products include giftware, tableware, and garden pottery.[4] Many of Cemar's designs were created by potter Fred Kaye.[5] Many items feature vegetable or fruit designs, or animal designs. Cemar products were produced in many novelty forms, including pineapple-shaped dinnerware. Items were priced at a somewhat higher-end for casual china, selling at around $7.50 for a place setting in 1952.[6]
Cemar's products were featured in numerous women's magazines targeting their marketing towards America's newly affluent middle class housewives: Better Homes and Gardens in 1949;[7] House Beautiful magazine in 1951;[8] and The American Home in 1953.[9] One of Cemar's fish-shaped cookie jars is priced at more than $150 today.[10]
Cemar was bought by Bauer Pottery in the mid-1950s. Bauer reused a number of the molds formerly used by Cemar.[11]
Cemar's products are popular with collectors of California pottery as well as those who look for retro style designs.
See also[edit]
References[edit]
- ^ Chipman, Jack (1999). Collector's Encyclopedia of California Pottery. Paducah, Kentucky: Collector Books. p. 298. ISBN 1574320378.
- ^ "Cemar Clay Products". Potteries of California. Archived from the original on October 9, 2012. Retrieved October 3, 2012.
- ^ "Article". Department Store Economist. 15. Chilton Company: 111. 1952.
- ^ "Cemar Clay Products". Potteries of California. Archived from the original on October 9, 2012. Retrieved October 3, 2012.
- ^ "Cemar Clay Products". Potteries of California. Archived from the original on October 9, 2012. Retrieved October 3, 2012.
- ^ "Article". Department Store Economist. 15. Chilton Company: 112. 1952.
- ^ "Article". Better Homes and Gardens. 27 (7–8): 106. 1949.
- ^ "Article". House Beautiful. 93 (2): 151. 1951.
- ^ "Article". American Home. 51. American Home Pub. Co: 108. 1953.
- ^ Chipman, Jack (1999). Collector's Encyclopedia of California Pottery. Paducah, Kentucky: Collector Books. p. 33. ISBN 1574320378.
- ^ Tuchman, Mitch; Jack Chipman; Peter Brenner (1995). Bauer, classic American pottery. Chronicle Books. pp. 75. ISBN 9780811809016.