Where does the California mark on Franciscan Ware come from?
Some will have a California in addition to or in place of the USA mark. The original factory (Gladding, McBean and Co) was based in California. They were actually in Glendale. Franciscan (and later Franciscan Ware) was actually a trade name they used. Up until they were sold to England in 1984, you can find pieces with USA and California marks.
Is the Franciscan Pottery still made in California?
Although Franciscan is no longer manufacturing pottery in California or England, it is still being produced in China. Pieces with the California backstamp are the older, more desirable pieces. Arcadia Franciscan Arcadia has a cream background with gold trim and a band of leaves around the rim.
When did Franciscan Ceramics Stop making tableware?
Franciscan Ceramics are ceramic tableware and tile products produced by Gladding, McBean & Co. in Los Angeles, California, from 1934–1962, International Pipe and Ceramics (Interpace) from 1962–1979, and Wedgwood from 1979-1983. Wedgwood closed the Los Angeles plant, and moved the production of dinnerware to England in 1983.
What was the first dinnerware made by Franciscan?
By 1936, Gladding-McBean was selling four-piece starter sets of El Patio and Coronado to newlyweds. Franciscan’s first painted dinnerware was Padua, which used the El Patio form for its shape.
Although Franciscan is no longer manufacturing pottery in California or England, it is still being produced in China. Pieces with the California backstamp are the older, more desirable pieces. Arcadia Franciscan Arcadia has a cream background with gold trim and a band of leaves around the rim.
What was the first piece of Franciscan Ware?
Franciscan’s first painted dinnerware was Padua, which used the El Patio form for its shape. But the real harbinger of Franciscan’s heyday was a 1940 pattern called Apple, whose twigs were painted along the rims of plates, saucers, and bowls, with its red fruit and green leaves seeming to hang on the insides or outsides of the ware,…
When was the last Franciscan dinnerware pattern made?
Franciscan Bountiful is probably one of the last hand-painted patterns produced in California. It has multi-colored fruit on the rim with a pale green background. The pattern was produced from 1983 to 1984. Franciscan Bouquet is one of the later earthenware patterns dating from 1980. It has a tannish background with a floral spray.
When did the Franciscan Ware line come back?
After taking a hiatus during World War II, Franciscan came back in 1948 with its Fruit and Ivy lines, the later reminiscent of Apple and Desert Rose.
