Sanfords Guide to Brush-McCoy Pottery, Book 1 [Hardcover]

David Sanford (Author), Steve Sanford (Author), Martha Sanford (Author), Steve (Editor)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 1992

Beautiful hard Cover 9" x 12" Reference with price guide. 144 pages, packed with full- color photos, catalog sheets, and history. "OVER 1400 PIECES PICTURED" This book begins with a comprehensive history of the people and potteries behind the Brush-McCoy Pottery Company. Included throughout the book are quotes and comments from people who worked at the various potteries. Included in this guide are copies of original catalog sheets and descriptive quotes from these original catalog sheets. They are used to identify lines and show as many shapes as possible. The catalog sheets are usually located on or near the page of the pottery line. There are complete alphabetical listings by line names. This book includes two full pages packed with information and photos of the marks and labels used between 1902 and 1981. A small sample of the lines included in this guide are Onyx, Jardinieres & Pedestals, Cookie Jars, Art Vellum, Kolorkraft, Krackle-Kraft, Zuniart, Jewel, Jetwood, Panelart and many others. Each piece of pottery is identified by size, mold number, date of manufacture and colors, where available. The book includes a pull out price guide for easy and accurate valuation.

Editorial Reviews

Review

Brush McCoy pottery is the combined effort of two prominent Ohio manufacturers who joined forces in 111 to become the largest producer of earthenware and kiln-dried pottery lines in the country. The McCoys, well-known for their own pottery, sold their interest in the firm in 1925. The Brush family sold out in 1978 and the plant shut down in 1982.

The authors of this book, Martha and Steve Sanford, have armed the collector and dealer with an encyclopedia for identifying and valuing Brush-McCoy. Sophistication is evident in the on-site research, the quality of the color photographs throughout, and in the refinement of the pricing system.

If my own experience is any example, the reader may have difficulty getting past the show- stopping objects on pages 12 and 13 in the experimental and rare categories. It is hard to believe that Mt. Pelee green dish is the work of a commercial pottery, and it is obvious that the piece has found the right home in the Zanesville Art Museum. Throughout, the book is a visual feast.

There is, one might say, a nether world between commercial pottery and art pottery. Inhabiting that world is Brush-McCoy. The authors offer examples of both extremes, plus the vast middle ground. The book contains smatterings of the nostalgic and whimsical in the form of quotes from George S. Brush, who added his bits of homespun philosophy to each workers pay envelope. Excuses do not help matters, he wrote, they merely waste time.

This is a good example of how a guidebook should be done. -- Elvins Review: New and Notable Books on Antiques and Collectibles, Vol. 1, No.8 October 1994

From the Author

Growing up in Roseville, Ohio in the 1950s gave me the opportunity to experience first hand the workings of the local potteries. In 1988 I asked my father where I could find a piece of Florastone pottery produced by the Brush Pottery Company in 1926 and he sent me to see the grandson of George Brush. He had what we called the morgue of the Brush McCoy and Brush Pottery companies. He had over 1100 pieces from 1911 to 1982 and this combined with other pieces became the basis of this 1400 piece reference guide.

Because Brush McCoy pottery is unmarked and the only other reference book was out of print, we felt the strong need to produce this book.

We hope you find many treasures.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 144 pages
• Publisher: Adelmore Press; 2 edition (June 1992)
• ISBN-10: 096335311X
• ISBN-13: 978-0963353115
• Product Dimensions: 12.1 x 9.1 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.6 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,684,935 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fall in Love with Brush-McCoy, May 9, 2000

By 

Jeanette (South Point, OH) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Sanfords Guide to Brush-McCoy Pottery, Book 1 (Hardcover)

I began collecting McCoy pottery over one year ago, and have several books already. This book however, is absolutely wonderful if you're into collecting the wonderful older lines by Brush-McCoy.

Great history given on the different lines. Super explanations throughout! Excellent pictures shown with many catalog reprints (the detail from these reprints is harder to see), but I have an older 1978 book as well, and these reprints are super! I don't even need the other book now!

I, also, had several pieces that had remained unidentified thru other sources, but found in this book! Great reference, super learning tool, and a seperate value guide (although I find it hard to use, as it keeps falling out of the book). I find myself looking through it over and over again, as the pictures are super, detail is great, and I just might find that piece of unmarked pottery from having this book handy! Now to get Book 2!