Bauer Pottery

Overview

Bauer Pottery is a ceramics company producing reproductions of mid-20th century J.A. Bauer Pottery designs from the 1930s and 1940s in original and new colors. It revived the brand in 1998 after the original operation closed in 1962, focusing on food-safe tableware, garden ware, and decorative pieces without lead or uranium. The company targets collectors and markets its California-made pottery through its website, showrooms, and international shipping.

History

Founded in 1885 by J.A. Bauer in Paducah, Kentucky, as a producer of utilitarian pottery like crocks and jugs, the company relocated to Los Angeles in 1910, expanding into nursery and garden ware. It gained recognition in the 1930s for colorful Ringware tableware lines amid the post-Depression era. The original J.A. Bauer Pottery closed in 1962; in 1998, Janek Boniecki acquired the trademark rights and re-established Bauer Pottery Company, using vintage molds for replicas.

Product Lines

Manufacturing

All pottery is manufactured in California using molds derived from original vintage pieces. Production occurs in-house at facilities near the original 1909 Los Angeles factory site in Atwater Village.

Notable Products

• Ringware Mixing Bowl - Iconic ridged bowl in concentric circle design, available in multiple colors.
• Indian Bowl - Western-styled bungalow-era piece suited to California aesthetic.
• California Color Pitcher - Brightly glazed pitcher from 1930s-inspired line.
• Flower Pot - Standard redware-style planter for nursery use.
• Disk Vase - Reproduction of early catalog vase in modern colors.

Reputation

Enthusiasts and collectors value Bauer Pottery for accurate reproductions that capture the original's vibrant glazes and sturdy forms while being food-safe. Professionals note its role in reviving American mid-century ceramics heritage through California production. Some criticism exists regarding not being BBB accredited, though no specific complaints are detailed.