Did Homer Laughlin make Ironstone?
The Homer Laughlin China Company in Newell, West Virginia, and neighboring East Liverpool, Ohio, was by far the largest manufacturer. Their Ohio Valley Pottery made ironstone china until 1877 when Shakespeare Laughlin left.
How much is ironstone pottery worth?
There are hundreds of known ironstone makers, but not all pieces bear a manufacturer’s mark. Heft and luster are solid indicators of authenticity. Ranging in prices from $12 to $250 for early examples, trays and platters are a favorite among collectors for both their functionality and decorative appeal.
How do you identify antique ironstone?
A piece of ironstone will always feel heavier than it looks. It has a wonderful luster about it as well, that can be easily recognized if you know what you’re looking for. If the piece has a handle, hold it by the handle and flick the body of the piece. It will make a lovely “ring” if it is free of chips or cracks.
How do you date Homer Laughlin china?
The Homer Laughlin China Company has marked their wares with a wide variety of backstamps….Marks with date codes from the mid to late 1920s will have:
- Made in USA.
- a single letter for the month (A=Jan, B=Feb, C=March, etc.)
- a single number for the year (2=1922, 3=1923,…, 7=1927, 8=1928, 9=1929)
Is Homer Laughlin China company still in business?
The Homer Laughlin China Company is still, today, the U.S.A.’s largest producer of china. Some of the plants have been abandoned and closed but the company still operates at the Newell, West Virginia site.
How can you tell porcelain from ironstone?
Unlike porcelain, ironstone is more opaque. It can be bright white or creamy colored (although earlier colors had more of a bluish tint). It’s not uncommon to see some crackling in the glaze in older pieces. This just adds to the charm!
Which Homer Laughlin china is valuable?
Homer Laughlin china is very popular but only certain patterns/pieces are very valuable. Fiesta ware being the most popular and the early/original pieces still sell well. eBay and Replacements,LTD are the best places to find almost true value of china – what someone will actually pay.
What is the difference between ironstone and porcelain?
Ironstone is not porcelain; it’s porous earthenware, made of clay mixed with feldspar. Patented in 1813 by Charles James Mason in Staffordshire, England, it was an immediate success, and ironstone blanks were decorated with transfer patterns or hand painting to imitate Chinese porcelain. There is no iron in ironstone.
What do the numbers on Homer Laughlin china mean?
1911 to 1960: In these date codes, the first set of character(s) represent the month, the second set the year and the third set identifies the plant in which the piece is made. 1920 to 1921: 1 through 12 again stand for the month, followed by “20” or “21” for 1920 and 1921. …
When did Homer Laughlin go out of business?
In 1897 Homer retired from the business to pursue business interests in California.
When did Homer Laughlin start Laughlin Pottery?
In 1870, Homer and Shakespeare Laughlin established Laughlin Pottery, consisting of two pottery kilns in East Liverpool, Ohio. The firm made whiteware, an ironstone utilitarian ceramic form. Shakespeare left the company in 1879. The business continued at Homer Laughlin China Works.
How do I identify a Homer Laughlin piece?
Homer Laughlin pieces are well marked. A mark exists for almost every pattern and body shape. Common elements include: (1) the name “Homer Laughlin” and (2) a fleur-de-lis type mark of an “H” in the center of the downline of an “L,” the base of which can extend right or left and right. In some cases, such as Fiesta, only the shape name appears.
What does the company hithomer Laughlin make?
Homer Laughlin also made hotel and restaurant china. The company has a contract with the U.S. military to supply china for use by troops at U.S. base camps.
Who was the first owner of Laughlin and Wells?
In 1889, William Edwin Wells joined the firm. In 1896, Laughlin and Wells incorporated the firm as the Homer Laughlin China Company. Shortly after incorporation and a desire from Homer Laughlin to retire to California, William Wells and a group of Pittsburg investors, led by Louis Aaron, purchased the Laughlin firm.