In 1947, a group of skilled craftsmen experimented by making pottery with the red-brown clay found along the shores of Georgian Bay in Collingwood, Ontario. The first studio was located inside a converted barn at the base of the Blue Mountain, and it was there a vintage washing machine was used to mix the clay, which was cured for 12 hours before application of the glaze.

Blue Mountain Pottery (BMP) is generally recognized for its traditional flow-green glaze. This glaze was the original artisan’s attempt to portray the colors which appear on the face of the Blue Mountain during the spring and summer. Heavily laden with spruce and pine trees, the mountain’s slopes display vivid shades of green and blue interlaced with the dark clearings of winter ski runs. Over 30 other color combinations were also used throughout the years, many with the intention of echoing the natural elements of the area. Vivid, watery blues mirror the pristine waters of Georgian Bay, while red-orange, brown-yellow and red-black illustrated the magnificent colors of autumn.

To achieve their trademark streaky effect, each piece of pottery was dipped into two different kinds of liquid glazes, which would cover tiny pores in the clay. During the firing process temperatures reached 1840 degrees Fahrenheit, which allowed the glazes to flow freely together, producing a mirror-like gloss. Since the procedure could not be strictly controlled, the finish on each piece was unique.

Ongoing changes in base and drip colors should make dating BMP easy, but quite the reverse is true. “There are several factors to consider,” said Pat Pitcher, a dealer/specialist in Canadian Pottery, including Blue Mountain. “The first difference is that while some colors were offered exclusively through BMP catalogues, others were made strictly for sale in the factory shop, as studio pottery or as a special order, and these works could cover any time frame. In addition, ‘seconds’ and overruns from special orders could were also sold from the factory store. Over or under firing also affected the end result, so a very unusual shade could just be the result of kiln conditions.”

Beyond traditional pottery forms – vases, jars, bowls, etc. – BMP also tried to be innovative. “One example was our Noah’s Ark collection, made in the late 1960s,” said Robert Blair, the former president/owner of Blue Mountain Pottery. “These pieces are rare by relativity – at that time the company had a very limited base of distribution within Canada. Another example was the Native Art series, made in the mid 1970s. Unfortunately, this series was also an example of a clever marketing plan gone awry.

“We commissioned 10 Native artists to submit drawings, and from these, we selected five, which were then reproduced to include the artist’s signature,” said Blair. “Each piece was covered in burlap and nested in a wooden crate. That crate cost more than the pottery, and while our profit was marginal at best, the overall product was considered too expensive, and simply didn’t sell.”

Throughout the years, BMP continued to address changing market conditions, and widened their distribution to include England, Norway, Spain, Australia, New Zealand, Japan and the United States. In the 1980s, they also shifted their production focus by branching out into cookware and lamps, but competition with Asian imports continued to erode their share of sales.

In 1998, Blue Mountain introduced the Romar Collectible Series. Every piece was limited to 200 firing days and was accompanied by a certificate of authenticity. When close to 5,000 pieces were sold in the first year, the company followed with other new releases. In the end, it wasn’t enough to compete with a changing economic climate and an influx of inexpensive imports. The story of Blue Mountain Pottery came to an end when Blair, who had been with the company since 1971, made the difficult decision to cease operations as of December 31, 2004.

The good news is that most pieces of BMP can still be purchased for less than $100, with many still available in the $4 to $20 range, although rare glazes and styles will command $75 to $300. “In general, animal figures realize more than their utilitarian counterparts,” said Pitcher.

Interested collectors also don’t need to come to Canada. “Blue Mountain Pottery will show up in the most unusual places,” said Gord Dowling, president, Blue Mountain Collectors Club. “I can remember watching a reality TV show recently, and I am sure that I saw a mocha cookie jar on a display shelf. Those pieces were sold at Walt Disney World in Florida, as well as a few other places. In addition, a number of Canadian ‘snowbirds’ have also moved their pieces to warmer U.S. states, so look for yard sales and local flea markets for your BMP treasure. Finally, there are always online auctions, although many pieces, similar in style and design, are misidentified as Blue Mountain.”

“If something is identified as ‘rare’ Blue Mountain, be sure you know your stuff,” warned Pitcher, who has seen pieces from other potteries sell online for inflated amounts. “People see ‘rare’ and don’t stop to think it might be correctly labeled.”

Whether prices of the more common pieces will escalate now that the era of Blue Mountain Pottery has come to a close remains to be seen, but one thing is certain. For just a few dollars, you can still get in to the game.

If you have any questions, you can Email us at antshoppe@aol.com

The Antique Shoppe
"Florida's Best Newspaper for Antiques and Collectibles
PO Box 2175, Keystone Heights, FL 32656-2175
Phone: (352)475-1679 Fax: (352)475-5326

[Top of Page | Editorial Archives | Home]
Copyright © 2006, Antique Shoppe Newspaper