Metlox Pottery, strictly speaking Metlox Manufacturing Company, was a manufacturer of ceramic housewares, located at 1200 Morningside Drive, Manhattan Beach, California. The pottery factory closed in 1989.
Metlox Pottery was founded in 1927 by Theodor C. Prouty and his son Willis Prouty, originally as a producer of outdoor ceramic signs. After the death of T.C. in 1931, Willis renamed the company Metlox Pottery ("Metlox" is a combination of "metal" and "oxide," a reference to the glaze pigments), and began producing dinnerware. The Metlox Manufacturing Company was incorporated 5 October 1933.[1] Evan K. Shaw, of American Pottery in Los Angeles, purchased Metlox from Willis Prouty in 1946.[2] After Shaw's death in 1980, Kenneth Avery became the president of Metlox.[2] The first line of pottery produced, "Poppytrail," became well known for its brightly colored glazes derived from locally mined metallic oxides. Subsequent lines included "Nostalgia," "Red Rooster," "California Provincial," "Colonial Homestead," "Homestead Provincial," and "Colorstax."
In the 1950s Metlox introduced a line of modernist dinnerware featuring free form designs and squared plates using "blanks" that were then decorated with designs and colors. These were then marketed under the pattern names of "California Contempra", "California Modern" and "California Freeform" names.
Besides kitchenware, Metlox also produced a very popular line of large ceramic horses and carriages in the 1950s. Carl Romanelli designed vases, figurines and miniatures for Metlox. A line of collectible ceramic people planters called "Poppets," designed by studio potter Helen Slater, were produced starting in 1970.
In March 1971, the FDA announced a recall of 400,000 pieces of Metlox pottery due to high lead content in the pottery glaze. One individual was suspected to have been poisoned.[3][4] The company voluntarily recalled their California Poppytrail Tempo and Mission Verde Series; with a portion of their Petalburst Metlox Vernonware Series. The remainder of Metlox's pottery did not present lead leaching.[5][6]
Metlox's incorporation was terminated on 4 January 1988. The pottery factory closed in 1989 after 62 years of operation. Metlox's 97,000-square-foot (9,000 m2) former site is now occupied by Shade Hotel and other businesses.[7]
After the pottery closed, lead and other byproducts of the pottery-making process remained on the plant property at Manhattan Beach Boulevard and Valley Drive. The city estimated remediation would take about 2 years with the cost to be collected from the property owners or having the site put on a State or Federal cleanup list.[8]
^California Secretary of State 2010-06-05 at the Wayback Machine, retrieved 2010-06-11 via query for entity number C0155727
^ abHistory of Metlox Pottery, retrieved 2010-06-11
^"Pottery is Recalled in FDA Probe". San Bernardino Sun. 4 March 1971. p. C4. Retrieved February 9, 2021.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
^"FDA Recalls Pottery". The Vidette. Vol. 83. Illinois State University - Milner Library. 11 March 1971. p. 48. Retrieved February 9, 2021.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
^"Metlox Recalls Pottery". The Leaf Chronicle. April 7, 1971. p. 20.
^McFeatters, Ann (April 5, 1971). "FDA Lacks Recall Power on Health Hazards". The Pittsburgh Press. p. 4.
^Peninsula People, December 2005 2010-11-29 at the Wayback Machine, retrieved 2010-06-11
^"Poisoned Past: Metal Waste Contaminates Site of Closed Pottery Factory in Manhattan Beach", by Paul Feldman, Times Staff Writer, June 21, 1989
Further reading
Gibbs, Carl. Collector's Encyclopedia of Metlox Potteries: Identification and Values, Second Edition. Collector Books (2001) ISBN1-57432-224-9
Chipman, Jack. Collectors Encyclopedia of California Pottery, Second Edition. Collector Books (1998) ISBN1-57432-037-8
External links
Metlox-Poppytrail-Vernonware History
December 31, 2022
metlox, pottery, strictly, speaking, metlox, manufacturing, company, manufacturer, ceramic, housewares, located, 1200, morningside, drive, manhattan, beach, california, pottery, factory, closed, 1989, typeincorporatedindustrypotteryfounded1927, years, 1927, fo. Metlox Pottery strictly speaking Metlox Manufacturing Company was a manufacturer of ceramic housewares located at 1200 Morningside Drive Manhattan Beach California The pottery factory closed in 1989 Metlox PotteryTypeIncorporatedIndustryPotteryFounded1927 95 years ago 1927 FounderTheodor C Prouty and Willis ProutyDefunct1989 1989 FateClosedHeadquartersManhattan Beach California United States Contents 1 History 2 See also 3 References 4 Further reading 5 External linksHistory Edit Metlox Pottery miniatures playful bears Metlox Pottery was founded in 1927 by Theodor C Prouty and his son Willis Prouty originally as a producer of outdoor ceramic signs After the death of T C in 1931 Willis renamed the company Metlox Pottery Metlox is a combination of metal and oxide a reference to the glaze pigments and began producing dinnerware The Metlox Manufacturing Company was incorporated 5 October 1933 1 Evan K Shaw of American Pottery in Los Angeles purchased Metlox from Willis Prouty in 1946 2 After Shaw s death in 1980 Kenneth Avery became the president of Metlox 2 The first line of pottery produced Poppytrail became well known for its brightly colored glazes derived from locally mined metallic oxides Subsequent lines included Nostalgia Red Rooster California Provincial Colonial Homestead Homestead Provincial and Colorstax In the 1950s Metlox introduced a line of modernist dinnerware featuring free form designs and squared plates using blanks that were then decorated with designs and colors These were then marketed under the pattern names of California Contempra California Modern and California Freeform names Besides kitchenware Metlox also produced a very popular line of large ceramic horses and carriages in the 1950s Carl Romanelli designed vases figurines and miniatures for Metlox A line of collectible ceramic people planters called Poppets designed by studio potter Helen Slater were produced starting in 1970 In March 1971 the FDA announced a recall of 400 000 pieces of Metlox pottery due to high lead content in the pottery glaze One individual was suspected to have been poisoned 3 4 The company voluntarily recalled their California Poppytrail Tempo and Mission Verde Series with a portion of their Petalburst Metlox Vernonware Series The remainder of Metlox s pottery did not present lead leaching 5 6 Metlox s incorporation was terminated on 4 January 1988 The pottery factory closed in 1989 after 62 years of operation Metlox s 97 000 square foot 9 000 m2 former site is now occupied by Shade Hotel and other businesses 7 After the pottery closed lead and other byproducts of the pottery making process remained on the plant property at Manhattan Beach Boulevard and Valley Drive The city estimated remediation would take about 2 years with the cost to be collected from the property owners or having the site put on a State or Federal cleanup list 8 See also EditCalifornia potteryReferences Edit California Secretary of State Archived 2010 06 05 at the Wayback Machine retrieved 2010 06 11 via query for entity number C0155727 a b History of Metlox Pottery retrieved 2010 06 11 Pottery is Recalled in FDA Probe San Bernardino Sun 4 March 1971 p C4 Retrieved February 9 2021 a href Template Cite news html title Template Cite news cite news a CS1 maint url status link FDA Recalls Pottery The Vidette Vol 83 Illinois State University Milner Library 11 March 1971 p 48 Retrieved February 9 2021 a href Template Cite news html title Template Cite news cite news a CS1 maint url status link Metlox Recalls Pottery The Leaf Chronicle April 7 1971 p 20 McFeatters Ann April 5 1971 FDA Lacks Recall Power on Health Hazards The Pittsburgh Press p 4 Peninsula People December 2005 Archived 2010 11 29 at the Wayback Machine retrieved 2010 06 11 Poisoned Past Metal Waste Contaminates Site of Closed Pottery Factory in Manhattan Beach by Paul Feldman Times Staff Writer June 21 1989Further reading EditGibbs Carl Collector s Encyclopedia of Metlox Potteries Identification and Values Second Edition Collector Books 2001 ISBN 1 57432 224 9 Chipman Jack Collectors Encyclopedia of California Pottery Second Edition Collector Books 1998 ISBN 1 57432 037 8External links EditMetlox Poppytrail Vernonware History Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Metlox Pottery amp oldid 1102650601, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
