Glidden Pottery
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Ceramics, Stoneware |
| Founded | 1940 |
| Founder | Glidden Parker |
| Defunct | 1957 |
| Headquarters | Alfred, New York , United States |
Area served | United States |
Key people | Glidden Parker (founder, principal designer), Pat Parker (glaze developer), Fong Chow (designer), Sergio Dello Strologo (designer) |
| Products | Stoneware, dinnerware, art pieces |
Number of employees | 55 (at peak) |
Glidden Pottery was a producer of distinctive stoneware, dinnerware, and art pieces based in Alfred, New York, active from 1940 until 1957. Established by Glidden Parker, a ceramics graduate from the New York State College of Ceramics at Alfred University, the firm specialized in molded stoneware adorned with hand-painted designs. The New Yorker commended Glidden Pottery for its matte finishes, subtle color schemes, and innovative shapes. Its products were retailed through prominent American department stores and occasionally appeared on television programs such as I Love Lucy.
Origins
During a family visit to Alfred, Glidden Parker was inspired to enroll as a special graduate student at the New York College of Ceramics in 1937. There, he studied under distinguished instructors including Katherine Nelson (painting), Marion Fosdick (ceramics), Don Schreckengost (industrial design), and Charles Harder (ceramics). Parker founded Glidden Pottery in 1940 within Professor Fosdick’s ceramics studio before relocating to a dedicated facility. Initial designs emphasized floral motifs.
With guidance from Professors Clarence Merritt and Charles Harder, Parker developed an ovenproof stoneware body utilizing local clays sourced from New York, Pennsylvania, and Ohio. His wife, Pat (Harriet Patricia Hamill), also an alumna of the ceramics program, played a significant role in developing glazes.
The company’s business model focused on combining molded shapes with hand-painted decoration at affordable prices—a set of sixteen undecorated pieces sold for approximately $14.50. Parker sought to merge craftsmanship with technical advancements while preserving a personal touch. Gliddenware rapidly expanded its market presence through distribution in major department stores such as Bloomingdale's, Bergdorf Goodman, and Marshall Field's, securing a strong position within the national ceramics market.
Growth
In its inaugural year, Glidden Pottery operated with founder Glidden Parker, his wife Pat, and one additional employee, producing 3,000 items across 37 shapes. By 1943, the workforce had increased to between eight and ten employees, with orders surpassing 100,000 pieces by 1945. At its height, the company employed 55 workers and manufactured 6,000 pieces weekly. To accommodate expansion, Parker constructed a new plant on North Main Street in Alfred in 1945, equipped with a 50-foot tunnel kiln running almost continuously and increasing production capacity to over 200 shapes.
By 1945, Glidden Pottery had achieved nationwide recognition through magazine coverage and advertising campaigns. It gained distinction by participating in the Good Design exhibitions held at the Museum of Modern Art in New York and Merchandise Mart in Chicago, bolstering its industry standing.
In 1949, the company integrated RAM press technology—using molds to press clay—to enhance production efficiency while retaining hand-finishing and decoration consistent with Parker’s design ideals. This transition prompted alterations to the product line, including discontinuing or revising certain earlier models and introducing new designs optimized for RAM pressing. The brand also adopted a new logo featuring the initials G and P stylized as a ram's head.
A notable moment occurred in 1954 when celebrities Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz purchased Glidden serviceware for their residence and showcased it on the I Love Lucy television series, significantly increasing brand exposure. In 1955, Parker opened Glidden Galleries in Alfred as both a showroom and outlet for discontinued items and seconds; it also provided exhibition space for other artists until closing in 1970.
Designers
The foundation of the company's main product range was established by Glidden Parker, who served as the principal designer and founder until 1950.
Joining the firm in 1953, Fong Chow (1923–2012), an alumnus of Alfred University, played a vital role in developing designs, creating glazes, and naming product lines up until the business ceased operations in 1957.
In 1956, Sergio Dello Strologo (1928–1999), previously associated with Russel Wright, crafted the Alfred Stoneware collection, utilizing glazes formulated by Fong Chow.
Additional notable contributors included designers such as Fred Press during the mid-1950s and Philip Secrest in 1950. The company fostered a collaborative environment where decorators were encouraged to propose designs, some of which progressed into production, highlighting an innovative and inclusive creative process.
Factory closing
The influx of pottery imports from Italy and Japan during the late 1950s created intense competition within the American market. Despite receiving critical praise and securing design awards, Glidden Pottery was unable to withstand this pressure and ultimately discontinued manufacturing in December 1957.
Awards and museum exhibitions
Throughout its operational years, Glidden Pottery earned distinction through numerous museum displays, bolstering its brand reputation and market presence.
- Participated in Ceramic National exhibitions held at the Syracuse Museum of Fine Arts (now known as the Everson Museum) in 1947, 1949, 1951, and 1952; notably winning a purchase award in 1949 for "best ceramic design suitable for mass production."
- Featured in the Good Design exhibitions at the Museum of Modern Art during 1950–51 and again in 1953.
- Included in the Museum of Modern Art's 100 Useful Objects of Fine Design (under $100) exhibition from 1947 to 1948.
- Showcased in MoMA’s Useful Objects exhibition between 1946 and 1947.
A comprehensive retrospective was organized in 2001:
- Glidden Pottery, exhibited from April through September 2001 at the Schein-Joseph Museum of Ceramic Art at Alfred University (currently the Alfred Ceramic Art Museum).
Glidden Pottery's work is preserved within the permanent collections of several esteemed institutions:
- Alfred Ceramic Art Museum
- Brooklyn Museum
- Cooper-Hewitt
- Everson Museum
- International Museum of Dinnerware Design
These exhibitions and collections highlight Glidden Pottery’s enduring influence on ceramic design and underscore its competitive stature within the industry.
Further reading
- Carney, Margaret (2001). Glidden Pottery, Schein-Joseph International Museum of Ceramic Art, New York State College of Ceramics at Alfred University.
- Kransler, Ronald J. (2011). Glidden Pottery: Alfred Mid-Century Highstyle Stoneware, Universal Publishers, Boca Raton, Florida.