Cemar Clay Products was a California pottery operating between 1935 and 1955.[1] Cemar's art pottery products, including tableware, are sought-after collectables today.
History
Cemar was founded by Cliff J. Malone and Paul Cauldwell, two former employees of the well-established (J.A.) Bauer Pottery. Cemar Pottery, like Bauer, was based in Los Angeles, California.[2] Cemar was part of the larger boom in California pottery during the World War II era when pottery imports from Asia were restricted or banned; a variety of potteries operated in California to keep up with domestic demand. Cemar was one of 13 members of the California Pottery Guild in 1952.[3]
Cemar's products include giftware, tableware, and garden pottery.[4] Many of Cemar's designs were created by potter Fred Kaye.[5] Many items feature vegetable or fruit designs, or animal designs. Cemar products were produced in many novelty forms, including pineapple-shaped dinnerware. Items were priced at a somewhat higher-end for casual china, selling at around $7.50 for a place setting in 1952.[6]
Cemar's products were featured in numerous women's magazines targeting their marketing towards America's newly affluent middle class housewives: Better Homes and Gardens in 1949;[7] House Beautiful magazine in 1951;[8] and The American Home in 1953.[9] One of Cemar's fish-shaped cookie jars is priced at more than $150 today.[10]
Cemar was bought by Bauer Pottery in the mid-1950s. Bauer reused a number of the molds formerly used by Cemar.[11]
Cemar's products are popular with collectors of California pottery as well as those who look for retro style designs.