About McCoy Pottery

History

• James W. McCoy initially developed the J.W. McCoy Pottery in 1899. In 1910, Nelson McCoy and his son, Nelson, took over and created the Nelson McCoy Sanitary Stoneware Company. In addition to selling functional pottery, the company also mined clay to sell to other American pottery companies. In 1925, the company stopped selling clay to other companies to focus on pottery making and sales. In 1933, after joining a co-op with five other pottery companies, the name was changed to Nelson McCoy Pottery Company. The company grew to be the largest American pottery producer from 1940 to 1960. It was sold to Mount Clemens Pottery Company in 1967, then sold again to Lancaster Colony Corporation in 1974. The company officially ceased operation in 1990 due to decreasing profits caused by demand for cheaper products.

Identification

• All authentic McCoy pottery features official McCoy markings. These markings changed some over time. In the days of the Nelson McCoy Sanitary Stoneware Company, the mark was a clover design with a number inside that noted the gallon size of the pottery. Most pieces featured a circle around the clover. Once the company was renamed, the mark changed to feature either the letter "M" or the name McCoy. There are numerous markings and variations used on pottery made from 1940 until 1990. Some markings feature a mark for Lancaster Colony or Mt. Clemens.

Types

• McCoy pottery comes in a varied selection of pieces. Umbrella stands, pedestals, jardinières, cookware, vases and cookie jars were among common household items. During World War II, Nelson McCoy Pottery Company was contracted to make land mines for the government.

Features

• The majority of McCoy pottery made available to the general public was solid green pottery with little, if any decorative coloring. Some of the more rare McCoy pottery includes the leaf and berry designs featuring brown and green glazes, which were manufactured in the 1920s and 1930s. These items were considered upper class items as the cost prohibited many people from purchasing them. Another notable style of McCoy pottery is the Mammy with Flowers cookie jar design.

Warning

• McCoy pottery is often counterfeited. Anyone who is purchasing the pottery as a collector's item must check the mark on the pottery. Be warned, some counterfeiters are very good at copying the mark. A reputable dealer will have documentation to prove the authenticity of the item. This documentation will be either in the form of a certificate from the company or a letter from a professional appraiser.