Week 6-Cowan Pottery Museum, Rocky River

R. Guy Cowan, the mentor, provided technical knowledge and artistic direction.

R. Guy Cowan, the employer, provided facilities for other artists to experiment and develop creatively while earning a living.

In 1912, Cowan opened his pottery facility in Lakewood and began producing his "Lakewood Ware."

He taught in area schools, while refining new types of glazes, new colors and clay mixures in his studio.

In 1920, a new plant was built on Lake Rd. in Rocky River. Cowan had 9 kilns, emplyed 50 master potters and artists and his studio became a popular tourist attraction.

One of Cowan's artists was Victor Schreckengost, designer of the famous "Jazz Bowl." Eleanor Roosevelt ordered one of these bowls for the White House.

Commercial production was distributed nationally to department stores: Wanamaker's (Philadelphia), Marshall Field (Chicago), Ovington (NY)
,Halle's, Sterling & Welch and Webb C. Ball (Cleveland).

By 1925 there were at least 1200 retail outlets for Cowan Pottery. Costs ranged from 50 cents to 40 dollars. Limited editions for department store displays were priced as high as 500 dollars.

Cowan Pottery became a casualty of the Depression. In 1931 its doors were closed and the collection was liquidated.

I love the shape of these vases. This center one is decorated with fish and waves, and has a light blue pearly glaze.

Cowan Pottery has won many awards, and has been displayed at the Cleveland Museum of Art.

In 1976, The Rocky River Public Library purchased an 800 piece collection of Cowan Pottery using a donation of memorial funds.

Two years later, the Cowan Pottery Museum opened in the library, following its commitment to be an "informational, educational, recreational and cultural resource."

Thanks to Catherine who, with her husband, have taken a personal interest in this collection and recommended this museum to me.

And what is art and history if it isn't personal? While doing research about Cowan Pottery, ("Pottery, Modern Wares 1920-1960" Leslie Pina) I found a chapter about Russel Wright Modern Ware made in Stuebenville.

I rushed to the back of a kitchen cupboard and found these three pieces I chose from Aunty's dishes after she died.

They aren't rare: 80 million pieces were made from 1939-1959. But there are some good stories about a near riot in Gimbel's, as women rushed the store to purchase these dishes.

Like I tell my students, if you have 2 or more, you have a collection. I think I have a collection. Thank you, Aunty.

Here are some links if you want to learn about Cowan Pottery or Russell Wright Modern Ware.

http://http//www.bauerpottery.com/russelwright.php

http://http//www.cowanpottery.org/aboutcowan.htm

Next week I'm headed to Fremont, Ohio. C'mon along for some Ohio history.