Abingdon Pottery Artware 1934-1950: Stepchild of the Great Depression [Hardcover]

Joe Paradis (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 1, 2000 | Series: A Schiffer Book for Collectors

The industrial pottery at Abingdon, Illinois, made artware from 1934 to 1950 before returning to its mainstay, plum-bingware or sanitary-ware, as it was called at "The Pottery." Yankee ingenuity was used to cope with the Great Depression when managers came up with the idea of making artware using their usual "industrial strength" materials and processes. This decision resulted in artware with unusually strong bodies and glazes. For the veteran collector of Abingdon Pottery as well as the novice, this is an Encyclopedia of Shapes, a Dictionary of Colors, a Holy Grail of Collecting, richly illustrated in over 700 photographs and painstakingly researched. It also has a detailed value guide according to mold number and mold type.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Joe Paradis was born and raised ten miles from the town of Abingdon, Illinois. He now lives in Virginia and works in Washington, D.C.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 198 pages
• Publisher: Schiffer Pub Ltd; First edition. edition (January 1, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0764300563
• ISBN-13: 978-0764300561
• Product Dimensions: 11.3 x 8.8 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #979,906 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A must have for a pottery collector's library!, February 12, 2002

By 

Kirsten A Johnson (Wichita, Kansas United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Abingdon Pottery Artware 1934-1950: Stepchild of the Great Depression (Hardcover)

As an avid pottery collector, I have an ever growing collection of Pottery Collector's Guides. Abingdon Pottery Artware is one I refer to over and over again. Clear pictures of marks, stamps, labels and bottoms and an extensive price guide organized by mold number and alphabetized by mold type making identification a snap. This guide is filled with color pictures that I have found to be true to life glaze colors, each picture also includes mold numbers and production dates. One of my top 3 favorite collector's guides!

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Ultimate Guide to Abingdon Pottery., June 18, 1998

By 

Rob Laurich ([e-mail]) (New York, New York) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Abingdon Pottery Artware 1934-1950: Stepchild of the Great Depression (Hardcover)

Abingdon Pottery has been a little know piece of Americana until Joe Paradis and his outstanding book came along. Paradis covers the history of the pottery works, from the days of sanitary fixture making to the Depression when Art Pottery was made. Also discussed are the unique features of the actual pottery with excellent illustrations and interviews with the surviving members of the Depression Era staff. This book is a must for both collectors of Abingdon Pottery and those interested in American pottery in general.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Abingdon Unveiled, February 27, 2000

By 

Chuck Hawkinson (Galesburg, Illinois) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Abingdon Pottery Artware 1934-1950: Stepchild of the Great Depression (Hardcover)

Abingdon pottery is one of the hidden treasures of the Midwest that Joe Paradis has now shared with the rest of the world. I found the book after I had acquired a few pieces. It explains the unique quality of the product, such as the weight and the gloss. Paradis includes cross-referenced lists by item name and stock number. It is very comprehensive, readable, and the photography is excellent.