The Homer Laughlin China Company
We’ve been chugging through cataloging the artifacts from the Admin/Gunson assemblage this semester. We should finish unit A sometime next week. This may seem like slow going, but to say that the artifacts are plentiful would be an understatement (6,951 thus far in Unit A with one more level to go!). In addition to the laboratory glass, gendered bottles, medicine bottles, household goods and building material, there are been a large amount of ceramics (which will be discussed later by intern Pa Vang). This isn’t terribly surprising since it is a early 20th century historic site, but the variety in the ceramic has been drastically different than other sites on campus. Only one unit in, we’ve already identified everything from utilitarian granite ware toilet wares, to French porcelain tea cups. One particular potter that has been appearing frequently is the Home Laughlin China Company.
The Homer Laughlin China Company was started in 1896 in East Liverpool, Ohio (it was formally known as just Homer Laughlin from 1877-1896). East Liverpool Ohio was home to many historic potteries, earning it the nickname “Pottery Capital of the World”. Between 1890 and 1940 the East Liverpool pottery district was the largest domestic producer of ceramic toilet and table wares. By 1910 the Homer Laughlin China Company plant was the largest in the world, with a five story building with 15 acres of floor space. The plant was also connected to a 100 acre park with a stream, zoo, formal garden and outdoor theatre. In 1929 the Homer Laughlin China Company operated five plants with a 181-kiln capacity. Peak production was in 1948, when the company produced 10,129,449 dishes. It’s estimated that over 25,000 different patterns have been produced.
The most well known product of the Homer Laughlin China Company is undoubtedly Fiesta ware. Fiesta ware was created by ceramist Frederick Rhead in 1935, and discontinued in 1959. New colors were reintroduced in 1986 to celebrate the lines 50th anniversary, and are still available today.
In addition to household ceramics, the company also produced heavy vitreous ware for restaurants (which are still widely used today). This hotel ware is also present in the Gunson assemblage. We have also found some of the more complicated patterns.
Additional research is necessary, and we look forward to adding more to the Homer Laughlin story as we move through the other units.
Author: Lisa Bright
Sources:
http://www.themuseumofceramics.org
William Gates and Dana Ormerod. 1982. The East Liverpool, Ohio Pottery District: Identification of Manufacturers and Marks William Gates and Dana Ormerod Historical Archaeology Vol. 16
http://www.carnegie.lib.oh.us/homer
I have a little bowl with this symbol