Buffalo China

Buffalo China, Inc.

Company type	Private
Industry	Ceramics manufacturing
Predecessor	Buffalo Pottery
Founded	1 January 1901 (1901-01-01) in Buffalo, New York, United States
Founder	John D. Larkin
Defunct	2004 (2004)
Fate	Acquired by Oneida Ltd. in 1983; manufacturing operations ended in 2004
Successor	Niagara Ceramics Corporation (factory sold in 2004)
Headquarters	Buffalo , United States
Area served	United States and exports to 27 countries (early 20th century)
Key people	John D. Larkin (founder), Lewis H. Bown (first GM), Robert E. Gould (president), Harold M. Esty Jr. (president), John C. Heebner (final president)
Products	Semi-vitreous and vitreous china, commercial chinaware, institutional ware, dinnerware collections
Owner	Oneida Limited (since 1983)
Number of employees	250 (1911) (1911)

Buffalo China, Inc., initially known as Buffalo Pottery, was established in 1901 in Buffalo, New York as a producer specializing in semi-vitreous and later vitreous china. Prior to its 1983 acquisition by Oneida Ltd., it ranked among the largest commercial chinaware manufacturers within the United States.

Early history

Founded by John D. Larkin (1845–1926) to create premiums for the Larkin Company, Buffalo Pottery appointed Lewis H. Bown as its first general manager, who brought on board skilled craftsmen such as William J. Rea, Anna Kappler, and Ralph Stuart.

The company’s facility, covering 80,000 square feet on an 8.5-acre site at Seneca Street and Hayes Place in Buffalo, was completed in 1903. At that time, it stood as the largest fireproof pottery globally and was uniquely fully electric.

Buffalo Pottery manufactured various china collections including Deldare Ware, Roosevelt Bears, Abino Ware, and notably the first Blue Willow dinnerware produced domestically in the U.S. These products were distributed through both wholesale and retail outlets; by 1911, the workforce numbered 250 employees with exports reaching 27 countries.

The company began producing vitrified china in 1915 and expanded its manufacturing plant to 300,000 square feet. During World War I, its production primarily served U.S. military needs.

In the late 1920s under John D. Larkin Jr. (1877–1945), Buffalo Pottery transitioned towards custom institutional ware for restaurants, railroads, steamships, and hotels. Notable clients included the Chesapeake & Ohio Railway (notably for George Washington and Chessie Cat services), the Greenbrier, Ahwahnee Hotel, Roycroft Inn, the 1939 New York World's Fair, and the U.S. Navy. The company introduced its patented Lamelle process in 1931 to strengthen china and minimize breakage. Between 1934 and 1937, modernist artist Ilonka Karasz held the position of art director.

Intermediate years

Throughout World War II, Buffalo China concentrated on producing wares for the U.S. military but was designated a non-essential factory, which limited workforce replenishment. The loss of experienced artisans coupled with competition from less-regulated firms prompted investments in automation financed through asset liquidation. In 1946, Robert E. Gould—revered as the "master potter"—assumed the presidency. Economic challenges led the company to pivot from bespoke orders toward mass-producing a streamlined range of designs.

In 1956, the firm officially changed its name from Buffalo Pottery to Buffalo China, Inc.

From 1964 to 1970, Harold M. Esty Jr., grandson of founder John D. Larkin, served as president. He broadened the design portfolio and implemented advanced techniques such as direct screening, offset printing, and glazing innovations. By 1965, weekly output reached approximately 250,000 pieces of vitrified china spanning over fifty patterns. Esty continued his involvement as a board member until the company’s sale in 1983.

Later years

In 1970, John C. Heebner assumed the role of Buffalo China's fifth and final president, spearheading a modernization effort that enhanced the plant’s production capacity by 50% by the end of the decade in 1979.

Buffalo China was purchased by Oneida Limited in 1983, with Heebner serving on Oneida’s board until 1994. During this period, Oneida expanded its manufacturing footprint, including establishing a new facility in Mexico. Nevertheless, economic challenges prompted Oneida to divest the Buffalo factory to Niagara Ceramics Corporation in 2004 and shut down the Mexican plant, concluding Buffalo China’s manufacturing operations after more than a century. As of 2019, the Buffalo China brand remains under Oneida’s ownership, which continues to offer select dinnerware collections under this name.

Collectibles

Chinaware produced by Buffalo Pottery and Buffalo China prior to 1983 holds significant appeal for collectors specializing in antiques, porcelain, hotel and restaurant ware, as well as railroad memorabilia. Particularly rare hand-painted series such as Deldare Ware and Abino Ware have commanded prices reaching several thousand dollars each, underscoring the brand’s lasting value and popularity among collectors.

See also

• Larkin Company
• John D. Larkin
• Restaurant Ware
• Oneida Limited

External links

• Larkin Company/Buffalo Pottery: Bibliography by The Buffalo History Museum
• Kovels Buffalo Pottery Price Guide
• Replacements.com List of Buffalo Pottery Patterns