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Frankoma Colors

In 1933, John Frank launched his own commercial pottery manufacturing company, Frankoma Pottery. Over the years, Frankoma produced sculptures, dinnerware, vases and other products, including numerous commemorative plates, all using locally sourced clay from Oklahoma. Collectors prize Frankoma pottery for its distinctive glazes and unique designs. In fact, collectors who congregate online at the Frankoma Family Collectors Association website have catalogued all the various colors used in Frankoma glazes, from the company's earliest products in the 1930s to approximately 1995.

Greens
- The medium green glaze is the color most associated with Frankoma. The first Frankoma green glaze was Patina/Verde Bronze, introduced in 1933 and used until 1939. Subsequent shades included Blue/Gray Jade (used from 1933 to 1942), Pompeian Bronze (1933 to 1939), Verde Green (1933 to 1936), Jade Green (1934 to 1938), Silver Sage (1942), Turquoise (1942), a different translucent Turquoise (1952 to 1952, and again from 1955 to 1957), Olive Green (1982), Teal (1990), Forest Green (1993) and Country Green (1995). The green glaze with the longest use was Prairie Green/Rutile.
Browns
- Although not as popular as green glazes, Frankoma also used brown glazes. The earliest of these were Osage Brown (an orange-tinted brown used from 1933 to 1942), Butterscotch and Fawn Brown (both used from 1934-1942), Maple (circa 1942) and Mocha Brown (1934 to 1935). Later glazes included Sorghum Brown (1951 to 1954), Buckskin Tan (1954), Saddle Brown (1954), Brown Satin/Rutile (1958 to 1994), Rubbed Bisque (1973) and Coffee (1973 to 1988).
Blues
- Frankoma's earliest blue glazes were Royal Blue (used from 1934 to 1942) and Medium Blue (from 1934 to 1937). These were followed by Light Blue and Sky Blue (both circa 1942) and Indian Blue, which was later renamed Peacock Blue (1942 to 1950). Other blues included Clay Blue (1953 to 1961); Woodland Moss/Rutile (1960 to 1974); Freedom Blue (1976 to 1978); Morning Glory Blue, used only for certain Frankoma vases manufactured between 1978 and 1979; Robin Egg Blue (1979 to 1992); Navy (1985); Mountain Haze (1987 to 1992); Country Blue (1988); and Cobalt (1994 to 1995).
Yellows and Golds
- Frankoma's earliest yellow glaze was Desert Gold (1933 to 1938), an early variation of a later color called Old Gold (1934 to 1942). A glaze named Cream was used in milk can pitchers manufactured for Wisconsin-based Golden Guernsey Dairy between 1935 and 1937. Other yellow glazes were Golden Brown (1939 to 1995), Sunflower Yellow (1958 to 1960) and Autumn Yellow (1975 to 1990).
Reds, Pinks and Roses
- Red, pinks and roses were also used in glazes, beginning with Cherokee Red, used between 1934 and 1938. Other glazes in this color palette included Chinese Red (circa 1942); Desert Rose (circa 1942); Dusty Rose (circa 1942); Red Bud (1949 to 1954); and Blood Red, which was initially used specifically in clay jewelry between 1955 and 1957, and reintroduced in 1976 under the name Freedom Red to coincide with America's bicentennial. Other red glazes included Terra Cotta Rose (1955 to 1957) Peach Glow/Rutile (1962 to 1974), Flame (1964 to 1992), Wisteria (1983 to 1985), Peach (1989 to 1992), Mauve (1992 to 1993), Cabernet (1992) and Plum (1994).
Neutral Colors
- Neutral-colored glazes were also used in Frankoma products, beginning with Eggshell, an off-white glaze introduced in 1933 and used until 1942, and Onyx Black, used in 1933 then discontinued. Other neutral glazes included Dove Gray (1934 to 1938), Ivory (1934 to 1938), Gunmetal (1934 to 1938), White (circa 1942), White Sand (1942 to 1995), Flat Black (1973 to 1975) and Terra Cotta (1980).

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