McMaster Pottery, Sovereign Potters Ltd, & Ecanada Art Pottery Company - 6th in Canadiana Series
Many of the Canadian pottery operation's and company's histories were intertwined due to sharing of facilities or artists taking their skills onto other pottery companies, or creating their own potteries!
McMaster Pottery was started by Harry Jay McMaster, a native of Pennsylvania who immigrated to Canada and was initially involved with Sovereign Potters Hamilton Ontario, before purchasing the Dundas Clay Products Ltd company and factory in 1939 in Dundas Ontario. Dundas Clay Products was a short lived venture begun by George Emery Sr in 1935 who had apprenticed with Wedgwood England for 14 years before immigrating to Canada and joining Canadian Porcelain Company Ltd, Hamilton Ontario in 1913. Mr Emery continued to produce pottery in Hamilton, firing the pieces he made in his basement at the kilns of Canadian Porcelain Company Ltd (a producer of insulators and fixtures for electricity). Mr Emery formed Ecanada Art Pottery Company in 1944 and his son, who took over the company, moved to a nearby barn and fired pieces with propane. Ecanada ceased operations in 1952.
McMaster Pottery initially used white clay imported from the USA before switching to locally sourced red clay in the 1950's. McMaster continued under his son Robert until his death in 1987 and the company closed in 1988.
An example of an early McMaster piece produced with white clay, a Planter or Cache in baby blue, popular nursery decor in the 1940's to 50's.
The white clay is visible on the unglazed base along with the stamped McMaster Canada logo.
To view details of the Lamb Planter, please click HERE.
As with other Canadian Potteries, souvenir pieces were produced by McMaster. Here is an example of a syrup or milk/cream jug produced with red clay, marked in gold script "Murray River, P.E.I.", using the drip glaze technique in turquoise.
No stamp is visible on the red clay unglazed base, but a rare gold & red foil hang tag is present showing the McMaster "Craft" logo & design shape and stating inside the label "Sorcery in ceramics..."
To view details of this jug, please click HERE
Not much is known of the early days of Sovereign Potters / Sovereign Pottery Ltd, Hamilton Ontario, but the company was known as a "Canadian Tableware Business", making dinnerware and advertising in publications of the day. In 1947 Johnson Bros (Hanley) England acquired a controlling interest in Sovereign along with their factory which was then used for decorating, glazing and firing of pieces.
Sovereign retained their name on pieces, although there is a reference to H&R Johnson (Canada) Ltd, Hamilton that may have appeared on some lines but I was unable to confirm or find examples.
One of the Sovereign logos was a gold gilt maple leaf and another was the Lions and Crown Logo atop of a banner reading "Sovereign Canada" along with the phrase "British Empire Made" (Canada being considered a British Commonwealth Nation). Many pieces included a model or pattern number. Sovereign decorated souvenir travel plates in later years and some of these plates (and other items) include the backstamp phrase "Decorated in Canada". Once Johnson Bros (Hanley) recovered from some wartime damage to their English factories, some china ware was sent to Canada simply for decoration at the Sovereign factory.
A Sovereign dinner plate, one of their tableware collections, in the pattern Breath O Spring, trimmed in platinum, and the plate backstamp. Likely Art Deco period.
To see details on the plates, please click HERE
I have yet to come across any Dundas Clay Products or Ecanada Art Pottery Company items, but I would surmise these are very scarce!
Happy Hunting!
Bear Hugs
Mandy
Mandicrafts
©mandicrafts
Mandicrafts
©mandicrafts
Links of Interest:
The Collectors Marketplace & Community
Thank you for providing this wealth of historical information on these three Canadian potteries - JACK HAUSEMAN
ReplyDeleteIt is difficult to find information on Canadiana items! I am glad you liked it! There are other Canadian potteries in my blog series if you are looking for more information!
ReplyDeleteI have a Sovereign Potters deviled egg platter....markings on the back are SOVEREIGN POTTERS Made in Canada ( printed in the Maple Leaf) ALSO 3 FINE TABLEWARE Golden Glory 1358-58. Can you tell me about this piece and how old it might be.
ReplyDeleteThis is a pattern that was produced c1950s. It is a golden yellow rose motif? Lovely to have as a serving piece! The number is the pattern number for "Golden Glory", long discontinued. Thanks for your interest! Regards Mandicrafts
DeleteI have sovereign potters vogue pattern large chop platter and a 2-section dish which I use for pickles/olives. my parents owned the set I guess in the late 1950s after they got married. the only remaining 2 pieces are the ones I now have. i'd like to buy a few matching pieces but the only ones I can find are in the usa and do not ship to Canada. :-(
DeleteSovereign Potters items are hard to find. They usually print the pattern name on their pieces, so that does help when searching for additional pieces to add to a set. The search can be part of the fun, if you are like me and enjoy "Treasure Hunting", but can be frustrating too. The after market is the only place to find Sovereign Potters items. Discontinued china sites, auctions, antique markets or malls and of course, ebay. Keep searching and I will also keep an eye out during my Treasure Hunting forays for the Vogue pattern for you! Regards Mandicrafts
DeleteHello~
ReplyDeleteI am here because I have been searching the internet for days for anything on the history of Sovereign Potters Earthenware Canada and its patterns- and your site is the only one with any in-depth information. The only other places I've even been able to locate the pattern are on pieces for sale through eBay or other replacement-for-sale sites and none of them with any information beyond the pattern name and number.
That having been said, I see that you have helped to answer some inquiries regarding patterns from this particular crafter and I am hoping that you will be able to help me as well.
I have recently acquired most of what was once an 8 person setting- minus a couple of plates/dessert bowls, small platter, tea pot and teacups and who knows what else... although I do know where to go now to find replacements, if i so desire! ;)
The pattern is called "Regency" with the numbers 804-44 associated. The earthenware itself is a warm yellowy-cream color with scalloped/fluted edges and gold painted rim/potters stamps. It has a floral design- a trio of a pink rose, a yellow chrysanthemum and what looks like a green peony- with a small amount of foliage, in the center of the plate.
I hope this description is enough to go on as I myself have been unable to find more than just pictures and nothing at all about what a complete set of wares commonly consisted of back in those days.
Thank you for your time and assistance. :)
~Ruby Tuesday
I understand your frustration in trying to locate pieces for your discontinued set. I did view the Regency pattern photo so know the pattern you are trying to locate and I will look out for it while on my Treasure Hunting forays, but all I can advise otherwise, is to keep checking ebay, check into local auctions, antique markets and malls, and even craigs list in your area. As for what a complete set may comprise of, unless you can find an advert, or view other similar sets on replacement china sites which may have more pieces available in other patterns, I am not sure you can really determine what "complete" may be. Perhaps, if you find something similar or complementary you may be able to use while still searching for the actual pattern pieces, it would at least enable you to use the set until you are able to complete it correctly! Good luck!
DeleteDarnit- I am looking more for the date of the Regency pattern (late '40s, early '50s?)- which is so far impossible, as there is next to no history to be found on Sovereign Potters Canada, let alone its wares... has me wondering why there is no collected history for what seemed to be a rather prolific company in its day.
DeleteThank you for your reply :)
Can anyone tell me anything about a McMaster ash tray with" Sioux Narrows ONT" in gold script.On the back it has the marking Mcmaster above Canada 100.Maybe when it was made,price?/ Thank you for any information.
ReplyDeleteMcMaster produced a lot of souvenir wares back in the day. The 100 would be the mold number of the piece which would have been used for various souvenir locations and the script for the place name added by hand afterwards. Dating is difficult but if it is white pottery (seen on any unglazed rim edges) it is earlier in McMaster production because they sourced local red clay beginning in the early 50s. The company closed in the late 80s so that is about as close to dating as you can get except for the "style" that can be estimated if it has a 70s feel and so on. Most pieces are not worth a lot, except to a possible collector, but being an ashtray there are those who collect Tobacciana pieces, as well as those that collect Canadian Art Pottery in general. Sioux Narrows is pretty out of the way as a location, so it does have that additional appeal. Good luck with it!
DeleteI have a creamer marked "Sovereign Potters" , and two saucers and a plate marked "Rideau Pottery" and the pattern is the same. It is called "Tuscany" on the Rideau stuff and has no name on the Sovereign. The pattern is floral and quite intricate--there is no doubt it is the same pattern. Do you know what is going on here?
ReplyDeleteBoth Sovereign & Rideau were Canadian Pottery companies. It is possible that they may have shared designs or produced for each other back in the day. There are many examples of the same pattern being produced by different china companies in England so I'm sure it also happened in Canada. I haven't been able to find any information on Rideau Pottery as yet, other than it existed and was made in Canada around the same era as Sovereign. Keep an eye out for pieces of your pattern as I am sure they are hard to find. Regards Mandy, Mandicrafts
DeleteThank you! It is a charming pattern, and very much "hand painted." Each piece differs quite noticeably in execution. :)
DeleteI am looking for information on a set of Johnson Brothers (Athena) that also has a mark of being 'decorated in Canada' by Sovereign Potters. The decorated pattern is Troy with the number A158-65 on it.
ReplyDeleteDoes anyone know when this was made? I am having a really hard time finding anything out about it.
Thanks
The Johnson Bros Athena style (plain white with raised ridge verge) was decorated with many different patterns. Likely sent to Canada sometime after WWII simply for decorating, I found only one site that has 2 dinner plates hallmarked with the Troy pattern logo and A158-65 decorated in Canada by Sovereign Potters. A Greek key design around the inner base rim. The plates are listed at 9.99 each on the site. I would have to guess 50s to 60s given the dates on the other Athena ware patterns.
DeleteMandy, Mandicrafts
Hi, I have a set of 3 bowls, 3 cups with saucers and 4 dessert plates and have traced the pattern to Sovereign "Picardy Rose". It is very beautiful with pink roses, small yellow flowers and forget-me-nots and the teacups have a forget-me-not spray on the inside of each cup. Would you know how I can find out the date for these items. The pottery mark is the gold maple leaf with the words "Sovereign Potters Earthenware surrounding the logo and "Canada" written under the maple leaf. There is a gold number 4 on the bowls and saucers and a gold number 2 on the bottom of the plates. Thanks for all your information!
ReplyDeleteSue
Hello Your Sovereign Picardy Rose pattern is lovely. I have seen a photo of the dinner plate and can add that the pattern number is #818-44 which could refer to when the pattern was originally launched (1944) but I haven't been able to find out any more history on this prolific company other than viewing a couple of magazine ads for various dinnerware lines in the 1950s. Keep an eye on craigs list or kiji if you are looking for pieces to add to your set. Best Regards Mandicrafts
DeleteNeed to find some information regarding past employees of Sovereign Potters Ltd., around
ReplyDeleteApril 1945. My mother, Mary Boniface (Gorda / Cojacary) was one of them. Trying to track down
her date of birth and hopefully it would be on old company records. Need your help.
John H. Boniface
tuffycat47@hotmail.com
I have acquired a Bird of Paradise Platter that simply is stamped Sovereign in gold with what seems to be a crown above. Any idea if this is Sovereign Ltd? Thanks...Dan
ReplyDeleteThis sounds like one of the Sovereign Potters backstamps.
DeleteI have a complete set of 6 china place setting. (posted a minute ago without my name, sorry). It has 6 dinner, 6 lunch, 6 bread-plates, 6 small soup bowls with saucers and 6 cup and saucers. All in very good condition, Made in Canada by Riduea Pottery. Can't seem to find any information on them. Any one know the age or value of the this gorgeous set. I have photos but don't know where to post them on this site. Please email me at eknetsch@hotmail.com Thanks so much, Evelyn Knetsch
ReplyDeleteI have not found any info about Rideau other than it operated in Canada around the same time as Sovereign Potters. Replacements shows some patterns on their site & you may be able to find yours within the photos. Check out http://www.replacements.com/china/RIP.htm
DeleteRideau Pottery was located in Royal Ariston, B.C
DeleteHi Mandy,
ReplyDeleteI recently picked up 5 Sovereign Potters Earthenware plates. I believe the pattern is Montcalm 718-40. Very nice pattern but it looks like they were well used as they show wear and fading. Would you happen to know when this pattern was made? Do you have a reference you use to determine pattern dates for Sovereign Potters pieces? There doesn't seem to be much demand for china made by Sovereign Potters. Thanks!
Hi Mandy, I have a piece of what I belive is Mcmaster, it's of the famous " Queen Nefertiti " bust that's in Germany .Can you help with it's age and if it is Mcmaster? Many Thanks - Maria UK
ReplyDeleteHi there .I am hoping you can help me out. I know nothing of pottery.. and this article has been the most helpful in my quest to find the history of a piece I have. It is sugar bowl ( I assume) stamped on the bottom in green is "Sovereign Potters" above a Maple leaf with Canada just below it. under that it say Hotel China. the bowl has a handle on each side which is why i believe it to be sugar bowl. it is porcelain in colour with light blue bands painted around the rim and on handles. On the front is another Maple leaf with "Canadian National" ...... I would Love to be able to send you an email if you want a look...... I am pretty clueless but have my assumptions that it was originally made for the Canadian National Railroads... either in a dining car or as a souvenir? not a collector or anything just would be cool to know more about it.
ReplyDeleteHello, I'm thrilled to find a site with information on Sovereign Potters. I have a restaurant creamer with the backstamp "Sovereign Potters Hotel China in a circle around the maple leaf. The design on the front is the letters C.W. over two trees that could be Christmas trees. I'm trying to establish an ID for the business that used this creamer. Any thoughts to that end would be appreciated. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteI noticed someone on this was looking for Sovereign Potters Regency 804-44. I have a 90 piece place setting, in excellent condition. 12 person setting, 12 dinner plates, 12 medium plates, 12 soup bowls, 12 small fruit bowl, 12 tea cups, 11 tea cup saucers, 1 large platter, 1 medium platter, 1 large bowl, 1 large gravy boat with plate, 1 small gravy boat. If interested, you can email me at lynev@comast.net
ReplyDeleteHello
ReplyDeleteThank you for all the information on Sovereign Potters. Very hard to find info.
I just got at an auction in Guelph ON an 8 piece set of dinner ware from that pottery with the stamp "decorated in Canada" and the patern name Nocturne, R181-66. Can't find any references to that pattern. Have you ever seen or heard about it. Thanks for any info you might have.
Nocturne is a Johnson Brothers' Snowhite Regency black shipped to Canada and decorated at the Sovereign facility in Hamilton then marketed as Nocturne under the Sovereign name. Mid-century manufacture - late 1940s through 1950s.
DeleteI have not come across the Nocturne pattern in person or on line but I have seen other English china makers put out that pattern (Ridgway)and WT Grant used Grant Crest as their mark and had other potteries make their Nocturne pattern in the USA and a hand painted version was made the the USA pottery Blue Ridge. It is a popular flower. With yours saying *decorated in Canada* it is likely a Johnson Bros piece they sent over for decorating. At least having the model number and pattern name can help you either sell it or collect more pieces. Regards
ReplyDeleteHi! I have a full 12 person set of Soverign Potters pattern 879-47, so far i haven't been able to find it anywhere online. My plan is to keep it, as it was my great-grandmothers. But I'd like to find out how old it could be, and the pattern name! Any info for me?
ReplyDeleteMany patterns were just numbers. Often, you can google search using a keyword of what the pattern looks like to find matching pieces (rose, lily of the valley, etc). Most are mid century, post-war era. Flea markets, antique markets, and online replacement china shops may carry pieces of your pattern. Regards
DeleteI also have that pattern. I would like to sell it. I have 54 pieces.
DeleteI have one pink saucer with 'Morn Glo' printed in cursive writing and the stamp - a maple leaf with the words 'Sovereign Potters Hotel Ware' surrounding it. The word Canada is under the maple leaf. Do you have any idea how old this saucer is? I bought it about 17 years ago with some J&G Meakin cups and saucers and lunch plates and didn't realize it was a different type. Thanks, Susan
ReplyDeleteWe just found a Sovereign Potters Hotel Ware jug 6 1/4 high, 4" opening, base is 5 1/4". It has a RCAF insignia on the front. There were 2 egg cups with the same insignia. Can anyone tell me more about these pieces or is anyone interested in them.
ReplyDeleteHi i just acquired 5 dinner plates rose of sharon 22k.gold 1075-51 do u have any info on these plates
ReplyDeleteI see that I posted to this page ten years ago! At that time I had 2 Sovereign Potters Vogue serving dishes from 1957. That’s the year my (late) parents were married. They had a set of those dishes when I was a young child, probably gave them away. I have since purchased an entire set including creamer ( it might be a gravy boat) and sugar container; I also got the salt and pepper shakers for free from a kind stranger in a Facebook collectors group; and I bought the teapot. I also bought a serving bowl and an oblong dish from someone. All in excellent condition. I keep looking online to see if there are any other pieces. I have never found a catalogue so I don’t know if the Vogue pattern had other pieces.
ReplyDelete