Franciscan Pottery- A Potted History

Children don’t give much thought about the plates their meals are served on, unless you’re like me. I knew my mother’s plates were Apple pattern Franciscan Ware, first firing. Our neighbor had the Desert Rose pattern. That’s about how far my knowledge of Franciscan Ware took me, and only because my brothers and I were reminded often to not chip or break the dishes. Today, I have all of my Mom’s Franciscan Ware from platters, to egg cups and every piece imaginable in between.

When antiquing, I come across Franciscan Ware pieces quite often. It’s hard to imagine that a couple of businessmen in California started making sewer pipes, terracotta and tiles which eventually lead to dinner ware. This iconic American company was ultimately taken over in the late 1970’s by Wedgwood and moved to England where only a few remaining patterns are sold under the Johnson Brothers name.

I’ve attached a fascinating article on the timeline of Franciscan Ware. Enjoy!