Early American Prescut-Patterned Ceramics
When hunting for Early American Prescut glass, you may encounter some pieces that look like they’re ceramic. Well, that’s because they are ceramic.
A popular pastime in the 1970s & ’80s was to visit a hobby shop that sold bisque pieces, paint or glaze them at home or on the premises, then leave them with the proprietor to be fired. Later you’d return to pick up your finished piece. Most EAPC-Patterned Ceramics found today are likely the results of that hobby.
Side note: Some collectors attribute EAPC-Patterned Ceramics to Taylor, Smith, & Taylor (TS&T) of Chester, West Virginia. I think this is because Anchor Hocking acquired TS&T in 1972. However, TS&T was well known for its fine dinnerware and art pottery. It also marked most of its works. The EAPC-Patterned Ceramics I’ve seen do not appear to be as finely made, nor have any been found with one of TS&T’s marks. So I think it’s unlikely that Taylor, Smith & Taylor made EAPC-Patterned Ceramics. But I’m always open to seeing proof that they did.
Thus far, I haven’t been able to track down the company or companies who produced the bisque pieces that were sold in hobby shops. Most no longer exist. We just don’t see many bisque-painting hobby shops like that anymore. However, from the EAPC ceramic pieces that have been found, it’s clear there are a few that were very popular like the Large Candy Dish with and without the correct finial and the Small Candy Dish that always has the correct finial.
Photo courtesy of Vicky Hilton Cunningham.
Then there’s the lamp, like the one shown here, which was clearly assembled using molds of a variety of EAPC pieces. A Cake Stand without a scalloped rim serves as the base, a Large Candy Bowl with lid, but sans finial, makes up the body, and a Large Serving Bowl sans scalloped rim serves as the shade.
Glass EAPC pieces have also been used to make molds for EAPC-patterned Ceramics, which accounts for the smaller size of some EAPC ceramics when compared with their corresponding glass counterparts. A member of the Early American Prescut Collectors Facebook Group fashioned a mold from an EAPC Sugar Bowl she found in a thrift store. The ceramic pieces she’s produced from that mold are quite lovely. I have a gorgeous aqua one that was a gift from my friend Nancy. Nancy has a purple one.
In 2023, I purchased a large lot of EAPC from a lady in Alabama that included a few ceramic pieces. Among them was a brown-drip Gondola marked “Japan.” Several months later my friend Vicky found one and then my friend Nancy found a red-drip Gondola. All were made in Japan and marked accordingly on the bottom. Their maker is still unknown.
Besides the Candy Dishes, Lamps, the new Sugar Bowls, and the Japanese Gondolas just discussed, Round Pitchers, Iced Tea Glasses, Cake Stands, Vases, and one Large Serving Bowl have been found. Following are photos of some EAPC-patterned ceramics.
Examples of Early American Prescut-Patterned Ceramics
Some EAPC ceramics like the Large Serving Bowl I found are very light and fragile – some may even be brittle. Such delicate pieces should be used for display only. While I wouldn’t hesitate to use my candy dishes, I have yet to fill my vase, pitcher, or iced tea glasses with liquid. Thus far, I’ve only used them for dried flowers. EAPC Ceramics just aren’t as sturdy as their glass counterparts. So handle them gently and their color will bring you joy for many years.