How to Identify Watt Pottery

Watt Pottery was owned by the Watt family during the 1920s. They were in business in Perry County, Ohio until 1965. The Watt family manufactured stoneware crocks, butter churns, preserve jars and jugs until 1935. In the years after 1935, Watt Pottery stopped creating their stoneware lines and began producing more oven-friendly cookware that could go from refrigerator to oven. In the late 1940s, Watt created mostly single-color kitchenware. By 1949, Watt Pottery started adding simple nature designs to their pieces using few brush strokes and bright colors against the neutral clay. There are a few elements to look for to identify Watt Pottery.

Look for a deep cream background color. Watt Pottery is known for it's unique color that comes from the type of clay used.

Look for a hand-stamped eagle or acorn in blue, surrounded by a circle. Most of Watt Pottery's early stoneware designs were stamped with this symbol. Later designs, such as the kitchenware, may have concentric circles on the bottom of the piece.

Look for a unique, simple design with few brushstrokes against basic cream pottery. Hand-painted patterns include the Apple, Cherry, Rio Rose and Dogwood lines. Bright colors against a basic cream background distinguishes Watt Pottery. These pieces are well marked with large stamps on the bottom of the piece that say either "Made in USA," or "Oven Ware."

Look for mold numbers or "Watt" marked on the bottom of the piece. Check the authenticity of mold numbers on the Internet. The shape of the pottery stayed the same through the years, making the silhouette similar in many pieces, such as the jugs.

If the pottery does not have a marking on the bottom, identify it by the painting style and silhouette of the designs. There are only a few items that do not bear a marking from Watt Pottery, and they are usually ice buckets or Apple dinner plates.