Vernon Kilns' History
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Vernon
Kilns was founded in July 1931 after Faye G.
Bennison purchased Poxon China Company in Vernon, California. Poxon
China Company was built at 2310
East 52nd Street, Vernon, California, now part of Los Angeles.
Bennison continued to produce Poxon lines, using Poxon shapes for
some time before an earthquake in 1933 forced Bennison to develop
original shapes for Vernon. Two fires in the late 1940's almost brought
the end of Vernon Potteries, Ltd., but Bennison decided to rebuild
and continued to flourish during a time when imports were not available.
The company was not able to compete when a flood of foreign imports
hit the American shelves and in 1958 Vernon Kilns sold its holding
to Metlox. Metlox continued to market some Vernon shapes and
patterns under the division Vernonware until 1989.
The
company produced dinnerware, art pottery, figurines, ashtrays and
other popular lines. All products were of earthenware, with clays
from Tennessee, Kentucky, North Carolina and England. Glazes were
developed from minerals mined in California and many patterns including
all of the plaids were hand painted.
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Martha
preparing breakfast in 1955. A Tam O'Shanter teapot sits on
the counter to the left. I love the rhinestones mom! |
Vernon
Kilns' Web
Sites & Electronic Mailing Lists:
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Tim Colling's Vernon Kilns' Web Site: In addition to
tons of informationon Vernon Kilns dinnerware, Tim and Linda Colling
host an e-mail list devoted to the discussion of Vernonware. For
details check out their site.
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Books
and Collectors Guides:
Maxine
Feek Nelson has written three books on Vernon Kilns. Her interest
in Vernon Kilns originated just after the close of World War II.
She received a set of starter set of Vernon's Brown Eyed Susan from
her family. She was living in southern California, not far from
where the set was made and one day she would develop a passion for
Vernon pottery that would lead to the publication of three books.
All of these books are now out-of-print.
- Versatile
Vernon Kilns was published in 1978. Ms. Nelson filled
this volume with the history of Vernon as told in interviews with
Faye G. Bennison, founder and president of Vernon Kilns, former
employees of the company and family from the original Poxon/Vernon
China Company.
- Versatile
Vernon Kilns Book IIwas published in 1983 with expanded
information on collecting Vernon Kilns.
- Collectible
Vernon Kilns was published in 1994 and fostered an entirely
new generation of Vernon collectors. This 8.5 x 11 inch full color
hardback was the culmination of more than 20 years of research
and sharing information about Vernon Kilns' many lines of dinnerware
and art pottery.
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Newsletter:
- Vernon
Viewsnewsletter is a great source of news on collecting
all Vernon Kilns'. The newsletter is published quarterly and subscriptions
are $10/year and subscriptions run on the calendar year. Once
you subscribe you will receive all issues published in that calendar
year. To subscribe send a check or money order for $10 to Vernon
Views; Box 945, Scottsdale, Arizona, 85252. Subscriptions include
a free 50 word ad in each issue.
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