Author Description

The Collector's Encyclopedia of Franciscan Ceramics is the companion book for Franciscan Ceramics Tableware, Art Ware, and Tile 1943-1984. This book includes the lines, patterns, and shapes of the dinnerware, fine china, art ware, and specials produced by Franciscan Ceramics from 1943 to 1984. Gladding, McBean & Co. began production of dinnerware and art ware in 1934. In 1962, Gladding, McBean & Co. merged and became Interpace. The Franciscan Ceramics division of Interpace was sold to Wedgwood Ltd. In 1979. In 1984, Wedgwood closed the Los Angeles Franciscan Ceramics division and moved all production of Franciscan to England. Franciscan Ceramics manufactured various patterns and shapes made in fine china, earthenware, and ironstone from 1943-1984. Lines, patterns, and shapes covered extensively in this book include Franciscan earthenware, fine china, Masterpiece China, Family China, Discovery, Cosmopolitan, Whitestone, Porcelain, Independence, Sculptures, Gourmet, Homeware, English ironstone, stoneware, Franciscan Myott, crystal, flatware, collector's plates, special orders and notable individuals and organizations special orders. Included are the Franciscan Ceramics backstamp marks from 1943 to 1984. This collector’s encyclopedia does not include Franciscan hand-painted embossed patterns manufactured by Gladding, McBean & Co., Franciscan Ceramics, and Wedgwood. Hand-painted embossed Franciscan patterns are extensively researched and documented in Franciscan Hand-Decorated Embossed Dinnerware (Schiffer Publishing Ltd., 2004). Popular patterns included are the earthenware patterns Starburst, Franciscan Wheat, Coronado, Daisy, Floral, Sea Sculptures and the fine china patterns Silver Pine, Moon Glow, and Renaissance. The Collector's Encyclopedia of Franciscan Ceramics is a complete resource for collectors of Franciscan ceramics from 1943-1984.