Collecting Blue Ridge Pottery from Tennessee
Vintage American Pottery with Folk Art Designs by Southern Potteries
During the 1930s and World War II years, importing dinnerware from Europe to the U.S. became a difficult task. It was during this era that American manufactured pottery and china gained popularity. Many of the patterns resembled Italian, French and English patterns but were much less expensive and readily available to all parts of the U.S. through catalogue sales and the local five and dime store.
Today, Blue Ridge pottery claims status in the vintage collectible marketplace and demands a variety of prices from inexpensive to pricey. The distinctive hand painted patterns, colorful floral designs and creamy white background give the pieces a distinctive appearance and create a challenge for any collector interested in American made dinnerware.
History of Blue Ridge Pottery
Formed in Erwin, Tennessee around 1917, Southern Potteries, Inc. manufactured a line of dinnerware using local materials bearing the Blue Ridge name. The company produced limited amounts of dinnerware during the early years but in 1920, a new owner took over production and brought in a unique method for hand painting patterns underneath the glaze. This process created brightly colored pieces that gained instant popularity. Local men worked in a hot and sticky factory to mold the clay and hand form delicate details. Lines of women and young girls spent hours sitting at a table using free hand painting methods to create the designs. This labor intensive process created desirable Depression era jobs in the rural southern U.S. Production peaked during World War II then fell off in the 1950’s causing the plant to close in 1957.
How to Identify Blue Ridge Pottery
As the Southern Potteries Co. evolved so did the markings on the dinnerware. Although not every piece of Blue Ridge contains an official mark, many pieces bear either a Blue Ridge designation or Southern Potteries label on the underside of the piece. Very often, teacups and saucers, creamers and small plates will not show any mark but can be identified through the pattern. Many pieces include the designation “Hand Painted, Underglaze” and “Made in U.S.A.”. Several basic shapes create a line of styles and may be identified by a piecrust edge, a scallop or smooth edge. Although a few of the later patterns included a speckled or plaid background, most pieces carry a characteristic creamy white base. Because each piece was hand painted, slight discrepancies within the patterns such as sizes of flowers, embellished strokes and color variations are common. The most distinctive feature of Blue Ridge pottery is the brightly colored one-dimensional floral designs.
Highly Collectible Blue Ridge China Pieces
Most of the Blue Ridge porcelain china pieces were made as accessories for the dinnerware sets. Typically, pitchers, tea and coffee pots, chocolate sets, salt and pepper shakers, sugar and creamers and serving dishes were made from a finer grade material. Production of the Blue Ridge chinaware arrived in 1945 and resulted in beautifully crafted smooth textured porcelains. Considered the most valuable in any collection, these pieces typically carry a mark designating “China” on the underside.
Blue Ridge Collector Resources
Once found in almost every household in the country, many Blue Ridge owners considered the dinnerware without value and gave their sets to charities or sold them at yard sales. Lucky collectors may still find some items this way but many antique stores now carry Blue Ridge and ask higher prices. The online auction sites are a good way to find a specific piece or complete a set.
For the serious collector, The Blue Ridge Pottery Club holds an annual meeting each October in Erwin, Tennessee. The show provides an opportunity to view hundreds of pieces and talk with other dealers and receive appraisals. . Because the patterns were sold through catalogues and referenced by numbers rather than names, the company’s records did not carry an accurate report of all the patterns. Many collectors are accumulating their knowledge and helping to identify some of the lesser known patterns. Blue Ridge pottery patterns may be identified through www.antiquemaster.com/blue_ridge_identification.php where photos of pieces are shown by searching design elements or the pattern name. Pattern names are not included on the actual dinnerware. A good reference tool, Best of Blue Ridge Dinnerware, written by Betty and Bill Newbound, includes color photos and examples of many of the patterns.
Blue Ridge pottery pieces
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Blue Ridge china pieces
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