1930s Bauer Matt Carlton Hands on Hip Vase in Orange

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Some damage at the base. Measures 14" x 8 1/2" x 8 1/2".
This company is a LA transplant, starting … Read more Some damage at the base. Measures 14" x 8 1/2" x 8 1/2".
This company is a LA transplant, starting out life in the great state of Kentucky. Around the turn of the century John Bauer moved his family out West, business in tow. The company originally made the same things that made them famous in Kentucky, clay piping in fact, but soon the new surroundings encouraged them to offer pieces that celebrated Californians’ love of things that grow. Flower pots and garden planters flew off the shelves and into the homes of happy customers. Bauer didn’t rely on the function of their pieces – they emphasized the design. (A quality that is consistent with the California pottery movement in general.)

Bauer hired groundbreaking designers like Matt Carlton who had a lot of natural ability to create one-of-a-kind hand thrown vases. Matt’s nephew Fred Johnson would go on to join the firm and bring a fresh perspective, adding a variety of iconic shapes to the collections. Russel Wright even joined in on the fun, creating his own line. Sadly, that wasn’t met with as much consumer enthusiasm, but it highlights the essence of Bauer. Innovation, trial and error – these were their constants. By the early 1960s John’s daughter chose to close the factory rather than resolve a tricky labor dispute. On an exciting front, the Bauer name has enjoyed a modern revival, but there’s something truly special about the mid-century vision.

Bauer’s most famed lines, pieces, and aesthetics from their peak include: the Indian bowl (perfectly capturing easy West Coast livin’), the yelloware line, ringed flower pots, bright and cheerful glazes, and the ruffled collection. See less