California pottery includes industrial, commercial, and decorative pottery produced in the Northern California and Southern California regions of the U.S. state of California. Production includes brick, sewer pipe, architectural terra cotta, tile, garden ware, tableware, kitchenware, art ware, figurines, giftware, and ceramics for industrial use. Ceramics include terra cotta, earthenware, porcelain, and stoneware products.

The history of California pottery includes Spanish settlers, the advent of Statehood and population growth, the arts and crafts movement, Great Depression, World War II era and the onslaught of low prices mass-produced imports. California potters large and small have left a legacy of collectibles, art, and architecture.

History
Tile has been a favorite building material in California since the early Spanish settled the are and brought with them bright-colored tile, according to Helen Stiles. She noted that "Spanish, Mexican, and the attending Chinese design of the 17th and 18th centuries have all influenced the decoration of tile and other pottery in California."

As people moved into California after statehood in 1848, the demand for ceramic products grew exponentially. Buildings needed roofs, floors, and sewer pipes. The ceramic industry grew as the demand increased. The "Golden Era in tile making" and art pottery, influenced by the Arts and Crafts movement, was around 1910. Architect Julia Morgan used tiles to adorn her buildings including the Hearst Castle in the 1920s.

The most active period for the production of household ceramics including tableware, kitchenware, giftware, and art ware was from the 1930s through the 1960s.[citation needed] The major area of production was in the Los Angeles basin. Around Los Angeles there were over 300 producers of figurines. Next in size was the Trenton area, followed by East Liverpool, and a few in the middle west such as Ceramic Arts Studio and Haeger Potteries.

The period around World War II saw the greatest growth for the ceramic industry. With imports cut off from European and Asian markets, small family owned businesses and larger potteries stepped in to fill the need for ceramic giftwares and tablewares throughout the United States. By 1948, "the peak year for the industry, over eight hundred ceramic concerns were in operation throughout California."

With sunlight year round, an abundance of raw materials, and relatively inexpensive natural gas, California became competitive with centers of ceramic production such as the "Pottery Capital of the World" East Liverpool, Ohio and Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire, England.

In the 1950s, imports resumed and flooded the United States market with competitively priced ceramic wares. Only a fraction of California potteries survived until the early 1960s. Today, only a few are still in business.

"Big Five" California potteries
The "Big Five" California potteries, from the 1930s to the 1960s in reference to the range of products and output, were Vernon Kilns, J.A. Bauer Pottery, Metlox Potteries, Pacific Clay Products, and Gladding, McBean & Co. All of the "Big Five" potteries operated production facilities in the Los Angeles Basin. Gladding, McBean & Co. grew from one factory manufacturing sewer pipe and architectural terra cotta in Lincoln, California to factories throughout California and the Pacific Northwest. Vernon Kilns closed in 1958, J.A. Bauer in 1962, and Metlox in 1988. The former Gladding, McBean & Co.'s Franciscan tableware and tile factory in Los Angeles was bought by Wedgwood from the Interpace corporation in 1979. Wedgwood closed the Franciscan Ceramics plant in 1984, moving production of the Franciscan tableware brands to England. The former Gladding, McBean & Co.'s Lincoln factory was purchased by Pacific Coast Building Products in 1976 and continues to produce sewer pipe, architectural terra cotta, and terra cotta garden ware. Pacific Clay Products discontinued manufacturing tableware, art ware, and figurines in 1942. Pacific Clay Products continues to manufacture sewer pipe.