California Colored Pottery
Designed by Louis Ipsen, featuring bright glazes produced by Victor Houser, and masterfully executed by potter Matt Carlton, Bauer launched their California Colored Pottery line in 1930. The first colors in the lineup included Chinese yellow, Delphinium blue, and Jade green. Over the next few years, Bauer added orange-red, cobalt blue, and black. Following a trend in more casual dining brought on by the Great Depression, customers were encouraged to create mix-and-match sets. Bauer offered the “ringware” version of the pottery in 1933, but continued to produce some plainware items until at least 1941.
Bauer introduced Hi-Fire around 1937 using a new talc-based clay that made the pottery more durable. While primarily an art- and gardenware line, Hi-Fire included some kitchenware pieces. Compared to standard ringware, the pottery is much thicker.
Colors
Through the 1930s, ringware came in a wide variety of colors, including Chinese Yellow, Jade Green, Royal Blue, Delph Blue, Ivory, Black, Burgundy, Orange-Red and White. The company introduced a light brown or rust color in the early 1940s. Gray, Olive Green, and Chartreuse were added in the late 1940s or early 1950s. While Bauer continued to introduce new colors in the 1940s, they stopped adding pieces to the ringware lineup as consumers moved on to other trends.
The following Bauer Pottery piece list includes items from their standard ringware dinnerware line, along with relevant pieces from the Hi-Fire series and plainware items that Bauer continued to produce through the early 1940s. I compiled the list based on available reference books, company catalogs, other collectors, and historical online auctions. Where known, accessory pieces like copper, wood, and iron racks and holders have been included. Stock numbers from the 1941 catalog are shown. Any ringware piece without a number was no longer in production by 1941. View the 1941 catalog here.
Cups & Mugs
RINGWARE
Mug, 12 oz.
Tall Mug
A.D Cup & Saucer
Jumbo Coffee Cup
Punch or Teacup
Coffee Cup & Saucer
PLAINWARE
Cup & Saucer
Tall Mug, 5.5”
Mug, 8 oz.
Beer Stein, 4.5”
Drinkware
RINGWARE
Tumbler, 12 oz.
Tumbler, 6 oz.
Tumbler, 3 oz.
Tumbler, 3 oz (handled)
Barrel Tumbler (copper handle)
Goblet
PLAINWARE
Goblet
Tumbler, 3 oz.
Known Accessories
Copper & Raffia Handle (barrel tumbler)
Copper & Wooden Handle (tumbler, 6 oz. & 12 oz.)
Carafes & Pitchers
RINGWARE
Beer Pitcher
Ball Pitcher
Wine Carafe
Coffee Carafe, 8-cup
Coffee Carafe, 6-cup
San Diego Intl. Expo Carafe (1935-36)
Ice Lip Pitcher
Pitcher, 3-qt.
Pitcher, 2-qt.
Pitcher, 1-qt.
Pitcher, 1.5-pt.
Restyled Pitcher, 6.5”
Restyled Pitcher, 5.5”
PLAINWARE
Stoneware Pitcher, 5.5”
Stoneware Pitcher, 7.5”
Coffee Server, 9.5”
Known Accessories
Iron Beverage Rack (wine server, 6 tumblers)
Tea & Coffee Pots
RINGWARE
Drip Coffee Pot, 8-cup
Coffee Pot, 6-cup
Teapot, 6-cup
Individual Teapot, 2-cup
Creamer & Sugar
Midget Creamer & Sugar
PLAINWARE
Individual Coffee Server, 2 -cup, 5.5”
Teapot, 6-cup
Creamer & Sugar
Midget Creamer & Sugar
Known Accessories
Copper Holder (midget creamer & sugar)
Individual Bowls
RINGWARE
Berry Bowl, 4.25” dia.
Cereal Bowl, 4.5” dia.
Soup Plate, 7.5” dia.
Lug Soup Bowl with Lid, 5” dia.
Lug Soup Bowl, 6” dia.
Custard, 3.5” dia.
Fruit Bowl, 5” dia.
Individual Baker, 4” dia.
Sherbet, 4” dia.
Eggcup
PLAINWARE
Individual Ramekin, 4.5”
Sherbet, 4” dia.
Known Accessories
Wire Rack (custard dishes)
Wire Rack (individual bakers)
Serving Bowls
RINGWARE
Serving Bowls
Oval Vegetable Bowl, 10”
Oval Vegetable Bowl, 8”
Divided Oval Vegetable Bowl, 10”
Salad Bowl, 14”
Salad Bowl, 12”
Salad Bowl, 9”
Punch Bowls
Punch Bowl, 14”
Punch or Salad Bowl, 11”
Punch or Salad Bowl, 9”
Pedestal Bowl, 14”
Nappy Bowls
Nappy Dish, #9, 9.5”
Nappy Dish, #8, 8.5”
Nappy Dish, #7, 7.5”
Nappy Dish, #6, 6.5”
Nappy Dish, #5, 5.5”
PLAINWARE
Pudding Dishes
Pudding Dish #6, 10”
Pudding Dish #5, 9”
Pudding Dish #4, 8”
Pudding Dish #3, 7”
Pudding Dish #2, 6”
Pudding Dish #1, 5”
Serving Bowls
Salad Bowl, 10.5”
Salad Bowl, 8.25”
Kitchen Bowls
Ringware
Mixing Bowls
#9, 1 gal., 10”
#12, 2.5 qt., 9”
#18, 1.5 qt., 8”
#24, 1 qt., 7”
#30, 1.5 pt., 6”
#36, 1 pt., 5”
Batter Bowls
Batter Pitcher, 1-qt.
Batter Pitcher, 2-qt.
Beater Bowl, 1-qt.
Beater Pitcher, 1-qt. (with optional lid)
Plainware
Mixing Bowl Jumbo Sizes
#1, 3.5 gal., 16”
#2, 2.75 gal., 15”
#3, 2 gal., 14”
#4, 1.5 gal., 13”
#6, 1.25 gal., 12”
Mixing Bowl Standard Sizes
#9, 1 gal., 10”
#12, 2.5 qt., 9”
#18, 1.5 qt., 8”
#24, 1 qt., 7”
#30, 1.5 pt., 6”
#36, 1 pt., 5”
Known Accessories
Copper Rack (#18 mixing bowl)
Copper Holder & Ice Tongs (#30 mixing bowl)
Plates & Platters
Ringware
Individual Plates
Dinner Plate, 10.5”
Luncheon Plate, 9.5”
Salad Plate, 7.5”
BnB Plate, 6”
BnB Plate, 5”
Grill Plate, 10” (later, plain)
Grill Plate, 8” (later, plain)
Serving Platters
Chop Plate, 17”
Chop Plate, 14”
Chop Plate, 12.5”
Divided Relish, 10.5”
Oval Platter, 12”
Oval Platter, 9”
Plainware
Individual Plates
Dinner Plate, 10.5”
Luncheon Plate, 9”
Salad Plate, 7.5”
Bread & Butter Plate, 6”
Grill Plate, 10.5”
Grill Plate, 8”
Butter Chip, 4”
Serving Platters
Chop Plate, 15”
Chop Plate, 12.5”
Divided Relish Plate, 12.5”
Kitchenware
Ringware
Cookie Jar
Stacking Refrigerator Jars
Spice Jar #3
Spice Jar #2
Spice Jar #1
Plainware
Spice Jar #3, 6.75”
Spice Jar #2, 6”
Spice Jar #1, 4.5”
Refrigerator Jar Set
Marmalade Jar, 3.75”
Known Accessories
Copper Rack (refrigerator jars)
Serveware
Ringware
Serveware
Salt & Pepper (with copper holder)
Salt & Pepper, Tall
Salt & Pepper, Ovoid
Pickle Dish
Butter Dish, Oblong
Butter Dish, Round
Ice Bucket with Lid
Creamer, 1-pt. (syrup)
Honey Pot
Mustard Jar
Casseroles
Casserole, 1-pt., 6”
Casserole, 1-qt., 6.5”
Casserole, 1.5-qt., 7.5”
Casserole, 2-qt., 9”
Hostessware
Ashtray, Round, 2″
Ashtray, Round, 3”
Ashtray, Round, 4”
Hat Ashtray, 4”
Individual Ashtrays, 3” & 4” (with copper rack)
Cigarette Jar (with iron holder)
Plainware
Beanpots
Beanpot, 3-qt., 7.5”
Beanpot, 2-qt., 6.5”
Beanpot, 1.5-qt., 5.5”
Beanpot, 1-qt., 4.5” (double handle)
Beanpot, 1-qt., 4.5” (single handle)
Individual Beanpot, 1-pt., 4”
Known Accessories
Copper Holder (regular salt & pepper shakers)
Copper Holder (individual ashtrays)
Copper Rack (all casserole sizes)
Iron Holder (cigarette jar)
