WHAT'S WATT?

                                 by Judy Ann Davis

Are you a collector? Are there material things than you like to buy, keep, and even display? People collect items due to a mix of motivations, including the excitement of the hunt, nostalgia for the past, pride in ownership and display, the pursuit of financial investment, the desire for social connection, and a deep emotional attachment to specific objects.

I collect Watt pottery that was started in Perry County, Ohio, in 1922.  It was started on the site of an old pottery factory, and remained in business from 1922 to 1965 when the factory was destroyed by fire and never rebuilt.   

At the beginning, they manufactured stoneware crocks, butter churns, preserve jars and jugs.  In the late forties, the pottery was focused on kitchenware glazed in solid colors. In 1949, Watt Pottery began hand decorating its wares.

These first hand-decorated patterns are called the Classic Patterns and were produced until about 1953. Vibrant colors against the deep cream clay gave Watt Pottery its unique country appeal. The pottery also resisted discoloration. The patterns are simple in nature, and were decorated with as few brush strokes as possible to allow low production costs. Teams of three decorators designed the various pieces.

I own pottery mugs, pitchers, and bowls decorated with the star flower, American red bud, and apple patterns. The star flowers were handed down from my aunt to my mother and lastly to me. The apple is considered a favorite by many, but the star flower is my favorite.

The pottery was sold in many locations and states such as Ohio, Kentucky, Georgia, and Pennsylvania, to name a few. But it was but also available in Kroger stores and across farming districts as well as from auction houses in New England. Produced relatively inexpensively, the pottery was suitable for businesses, including feed stores, to use as premiums or as advertising items. We were farming family, and my mother enjoyed the simple pottery for display purposes in her kitchen.  The pieces now sit in my dining room.

Do I still look for Watt Pottery?  Oh, yes. When I come across a piece, I have to stop and make the difficult choice of deciding whether I have enough room for one more piece. My display cabinet is getting pretty full.

So tell me, are you also a collector? And, what do you collect?

MY NEW BOOK - COMING SOON!

FINDING LOVE IN PINE VALLEY