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THE EARLY PERIOD 1894 –
1907The early period of the White Pottery began in 1894 when the F. S.
White & Son Pottery was established in Denver. The early period continued
until 1906 with the Art Pottery phase beginning in 1907.
The early
period was marked by the production of utilitarian ware and the production of
such items as clay pipes; i.e., the Meerschaum-like clay pipes.
Not all
of the early period utilitarian ware was marked or signed. The utilitarian type
ware, fired from the White’s kiln, consisted of such items as bowls, jugs,
flower pots, and other usual utilitarian examples.
Why, during this
period, art pottery per se was not emphasized is not clear. It would seem
feasible, however, to assume that two things precluded production of art
pottery. One, the local market was demanding utilitarian ware and the Whites,
to put bread on the table, submitted to this demand. Two, a likely tight
financial situation for the pottery may have slowed experimentation to a
degree. Whatever the reasons for a lack of art pottery during those early
years, they marked the move to art pottery production in 1907. Some of the
earliest known pieces bear this date.
After some fourteen years the
Whites began production of art pottery. The firm was known at this point in
time (1907) as the Denver Art Pottery. However, the operation remained under
the name of F. J. White & Son in the Denver city directories.
THE MIDDLE PERIOD 1907 –
1919The middle period began in 1907 with the production of art pottery,
and ended in 1919 with the death of the senior White, Frederick. This period
could also be called the Gray Ware period as the majority of pieces dated 1907
to 1919 were Gray Ware. Paul Evans in his Art Pottery of the United States
(in his chapter on White Pottery) best describes Gray Ware as pottery with
a “distinctive semi-matt, grainy appearing glaze.” Gray Ware normally
is quite thin walled with a high glaze interior, usually green. Other
art pottery dated 1907 to 1919 (the middle period) includes matt glaze examples
in brown, mottled green, soft blue, and yellow/orange. It is very
possible that Frederick White produced the bulk of the Gray Ware pottery and
that Frank produced the majority of the non-Gray Ware art pottery during this
period, because Frank produced Gray Ware for only about a year following
Frederick’s death. The year 1919 found Frank moving the pottery in new
direction and this move comprised the pottery produced during the White late
period. One final remark concerning the middle or Gray Ware period.
Gray Ware is truly distinctive art pottery and , in this writer’s opinion,
the throwing skills exhibited in its production are second to none. The Whites
knew no peers among fellow American potters who were working at the
wheel. Denver White
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