Columbian Art Pottery

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HOW TO USE THE DATABASE

The Database is organized by location, but you can find a pottery initially by searching for its name, which is at the top of the of the page with dates of operation below. Alternate names and the names of other potteries on the same site are noted at the top of the right-hand column, just above the pottery’s location.

The types of wares made appear below the pottery name in the left-hand column, followed by the references that informed these classifications.

Sample images of maker’s marks may be enlarged by clicking on the image.

Notes include a variety of information compiled from many standard sources and are presented as miscellaneous tidbits.

In the Gallery and Map Gallery in the right-hand column you will see historic images and insurance maps of the pottery’s facilities if available as well as historic advertisements and images of the wares made.

You can download more detailed information in all of these categories by choosing a PDF of the pottery’s full listing, which also includes the documentary sources. The PDF is text only and does not contain any images.  Data from the 1860, 1870 and 1880 industrial censuses area also included in the PDF if they exist for a given pottery. This data gives you a picture of the size of the pottery operation and the age and gender makeup of its work force.

You can help expand the database by contributing pictures and information. Contact POTS by the email address at the bottom of the page.

In operation    1892-1906

Wares

Art ceramicBelleekHotel chinaTablewareToilet sets

China and earthenware (Industrial Directory 1901)

China and Belleek ware (Industrial Directory 1906)

Thin Belleek china and ivory ware; table and toilet china and artwares in a Belleek body (Lehner 1980:44)

Notes

“The artistic brilliance of this company was not matched by its commercial acumen and the company operated for less than fifteen years. Their plant was located in a small building on Parker Avenue near Olden Avenue. In 1905, a forced sale of the property apparently led to the end of the partnership although the partners did retain control of the property. Morris continued in pottery production at this location for perhaps another ten years under the name of Morris China Co.” 

— Goldberg, David J. 1998.  Preliminary Notes on the Pioneer Potters and Potteries of Trenton, N.J.: The First Thirty Years – 1852 – 1882 (And Beyond).  Privately published, Trenton, New Jersey.

Selected References

Trenton Board of Trade. 1900.  Industrial Trenton and Vicinity.  George A. Wolf Publishers, Wilmington, Delaware.

Harney, W.J. 1929. “Trenton’s First Potteries.” Sunday Times Advertiser, July 7, 14, 21 and 28, 1929.

“Columbian Art Pottery established in 1893.” 1967. Spinning Wheel, April 1967, p. 12.

Gaston, Mary Frank. 1984.  American Belleek.  Collector Books, Paducah, Kentucky.

Frelinghuysen, Alice Cooney. 1989.  American Porcelain, 1770-1920.  Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, New York.

Goldberg, David J. 1998.  Preliminary Notes on the Pioneer Potters and Potteries of Trenton, N.J.: The First Thirty Years – 1852 – 1882 (And Beyond).  Privately published, Trenton, New Jersey.

Other firms at this site:

Other Names

Columbian Art Pottery Company; Morris & Willmore Company

Block and Lot:
309B/1

Historic Street Address:
Parker Avenue above Olden Avenue

Municipality:
City of Trenton

Image Gallery

Columbian Art Pottery, 1900 Industrial Trenton (Wolf p. 72)
Ewer, porcelain, 1893-1900. Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, Purchase, Mrs. Sarah V. Gayley Gift, 1990
Ewer, porcelain, 1893-1900. Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, Purchase, Mrs. Sarah V. Gayley Gift, 1990

Map Gallery

Columbian Art Pottery, 1905 Lathrop
Map References

Lathrop, J. M. 1905.   Atlas of the City of Trenton and Borough of Princeton. A.H. Mueller & Company, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.  (Plate 14: shown as “Columbian Art Pottery Morris & Wilmore Co.”)