Hobbies And Interests
Instructions
Lift the pottery piece to determine the weight. The clay used in Frankoma pottery is taken from sources close to the pottery kilns. It is a dense, rich, red-colored clay that is extremely heavy. Frankoma is one of the heaviest popular pottery wares. If unfamiliar with pottery weight, test the weight of other ceramic pieces. Even small pieces, such as bud vases, are dense and heavy.
Examine the clay itself. Frankoma ware is made from rich red clay that is easily identified, even after firing. The clay color is typically visible through the glaze, sometimes appearing as shadows. Look at the firing areas where the piece rested in the kiln. This is not glazed, and will clearly show the dark red color.
Examine the glaze. John Frank developed special clay and glaze mixtures during his lifetime; subsequent owners, including the present owner, have continued to use these. Frankoma uses thick matte and gloss finishing glazes. White, light gray, green, rich brown and black are common Frankoma glazes. During the height of popularity of colored dinnerware in the 1950s, Frankoma introduced yellow glaze. This color also incorporates a thick, muted hue.
Look at the overall design. Frankoma themes are inspired by Native American motifs and western life. Cowboy boot planters and wagon wheel coffee pots, teapots, creamers and water pitchers are frequently available at antique malls and stores. Other well-known designs include raised relief trivets, university and college mugs, commemorative hot plates and holiday plates. Political mugs of elephants and donkeys are made for each national election. These are produced in various colors and feature the election year on the base of the mug. See Resources for for images of Frankoma patterns and designs.
Turn the item over to look for a bottom stamp or backstamp. Backstamps are placed on the bottoms of cups and mugs, or on the backs of dinner plates and saucers. They are made with rubber or wooden stamps that have been cut with a pattern or logo. The stamp is then inked and touched lightly to the pottery piece. Since the pieces are stamped by hand, sometimes the image is blurred or smeared. Occasionally, the stamp will appear as a partial image. Darker glazes frequently obscure backstamps.
Examine the bottom or back of the piece for an indented or raised "Frankoma" identification. Many of the more modern pieces feature the company name written in raised or indented letters.