The California Connection for Iron Mountain Stoneware

Measuring 9.5 inches - luncheon plate size

Upon seeing the many pieces of Iron Mountain Stoneware (IMS) for sale on eBay which are shipping from California, I had to believe there was at least one major distribution point there.  This week a distribution store was finally confirmed when I visited a local collector in my area who was selling some of their collection.  While discussing different places where she and her husband had seen pieces of IMS during their travels, they mentioned an exclusive, high-end store in San Francisco, CA called Gumps.  I looked up Gumps (find the store history here) today and while they are still in business, IMS is not.

Recently, as further proof of the stoneware being sold by Gumps, the luncheon-sized plate pictured here was offered for auction.  Purchasing this plate in 1979 from Gumps afforded the new owner the ability to choose Iron Mountain Stoneware pieces in exchange for it as it was listed as a gift certificate.  The plate was personally signed by Nancy, in 1979, signifying that she did the hand application of decorative glaze in the Martha's Flowers colors.  This design is not duplicated on any of the Martha's Flowers plates however--so it could be truly unique to this 'gift certificate.

Signed by Nancy in 1979

Mixing Patterns

Over the Hills and Evegreen patterns together

The more collectors I talk with, the more I discover that they, like me, mix and match patterns if they use their stoneware regularly.  I use Whispering Pines and Pond Mountain together for everyday dishes here at home. Another pattern combination which also looks really nice together is Over the Hills and Evergreen as evidenced in the photo included in this post.  I am not sure if any of the glazes were the same or simply blend well together after having been fired.  Check out the solid as well as the monochromatic patterns to see what you might be able to put together to round out a full collection!

Stoneware Race Cars

Note the raised head of a driver in a one-of-a-kind car

Iron Mountain Stoneware was located in Laurel Bloomery, Tennessee.  Many of the pieces of the stoneware wound up in private collections in nearby towns and small cities.  One such piece, this vehicle sculpture was artist signed by Kaneko--Jim Kaneko.  The auction company which dispersed articles from a Jonesborough, Tennessee estate sold this piece at auction.  Jim Kaneko was a professor from American River College in California and often tooks breaks to come visit as a guest artist with IMS.  The auction company listed this piece as depicting a man in a racing car with unusual Japanese style glaze decoration.  The car was 9" in length and 4.5" high. 

Note the artist's signature--"Kaneko" on the bottom 

Drinking Vessels

There are different sizes of the vessels line of stoneware that Iron Mountain Stoneware created. There has been much confusion about their purpose and often they are all listed as being used for the same purpose--candlestick holders!  When you see these for sale on eBay or in antique stores, there were actually four sizes.  The largest was intended to be a water goblet, the next smaller size was for white wine, and the next for red wine.  The most shallow of the four was actually intended to be a candleholder--but the other three were for serving either water or wine.  Of course, you can use them for any purpose you wish and the catch-all name of vessels does not limit you to how you use them.  I took a photo of the four sizes today of random ones from my personal collection to help you see them when side-by-side.  Hope that helps some of you with identifying what you currently have or identify the ones you might wish to seek out.

l to r: Roan Mountain water goblet, Ice white wine, Blue Ridge red wine, Whispering Pines candleholder, Freedom Blue candleholder

Sally's Gift

Sally Patterson was the sister of Nancy Patterson Lamb and one of the three artists who worked in residence at Iron Mountain Stoneware while it was in existence and producing many pieces of stoneware for the kitchens and cooks of America.  Sally created many one-of-a-kind pieces which were beautiful and in the case of one which recently sold on Ebay, told a sometimes personal story about her life or that of her family.  This 14 inch platter was highly decorated and in the private collection of Nancy--so beautiful! According to Nancy's description, the platter illustrated "our family having a picnic in the back yard on a warm summer day." Note that in 1983 when the piece was created, it had a $400.00 price tag still adhered to the backside.

Scene from a family picnic

Signature, date and price

close up of the artist's detail

Merry Christmas Plates

The series of Christmas Plates, started in 1983, were a different design each year, and according to Nancy Pattern Lamb, they were usually painted by her, since each edition was limited. The back of the the blue and gray 6 inch plate, which appears to be inspired by Martha's Flowers, has the "M" signature that belongs to the artist, Mary Greer Suits . It bears the hand painted date 1985 on the back as well. The second Merry Christmas plate is the same size as the first and mimics the Over the Hills pattern of stoneware, but appears to have been done by Nancy Patterson Lamb as her initial is on the backside.
There were also "Happy Day" plates created in a variety of patterns.  The "M" which is often seen on the back of the hand-painted plates was Mary's initial.  There were various messages written on the plates--"Happy Birthday," "Happy Anniversary," "I Love You," "Thank You," "Congratulations, and "Happy Mother's Day."  Sometimes the plates had a personalized message painted on them too.

Merry Christmas, 1985

Merry Christmas, 1984

The Solid Cherry Inspiration

12" Chop Plate in a local collection 

When Nancy Patterson was asked about inspiration for the pattern, Solid Cherry, she smiled and told the following. I created this pattern because I remembered always going into antique stores and hearing the same statement from any of the dealers or salesmen no matter what type of wood their furniture was constructed from--"That's solid cherry Madam--solid cherry."  This pattern features ladderback chairs, round tables and sometimes a bowl holding cherries sitting on the top of the table.