The Hall China Company was previously
known as East Liverpool Pottery Company.
In 1901, an attempt to merge with four
other companies failed. In 1903 Robert Hall,
who had been a director of East Liverpool
China Co. bought the company and renamed
it Hall China Company. It continued making
the same porcelain and toiletware the East
Liverpool Pottery Company had produced.
In 1904, Robert Hall died and his son, Robert
Taggert Hall continued the company. His
goal was to produce a one-fire process in
which the body and glaze are fired at the
same time. This process was used in making
vitrified china. It was a long lost process
from the Ming Dynasty (A.D. 1368-1644)in
China. During the period of experimentation,
the plant continued to produce toilet sets,
jugs, mugs, and other whiteware. In 1910
vandals did over $3,000 in damage to
equipment. Fortunately, Hall was not
discouraged; only more determined to
complete his goal. Finally, in 1911 his long
lost process was again "found". This
process, is still used today by Hall China in
the production of hotel and restaurantware.
Gold-decorated teapots were made and sold
for retail in 1920. Each year new shapes and
colors were added until 1948; which made
them the largest manufacturer of teapots in
the world. The manufacture of the
gold-decorated teapot was such a success
that all three plants were at their producing
capacity. In 1923, Hall earned the title of
"The World's Largest Manufacturer of
Fireproof Cooking China in the World".
Decal-decorated kitchenware and
dinnerware was introduced in 1931. In the
late 1930's to early 1940's, refrigerator
ware was introduced. These were known to
be given away with the purchase of a new
refrigerator.
Almost all of Hall's lines of semi-porcelain
and vitreous ware are collectible. Among
those are teapots, kitchenware,
decal-decorated pieces, and refrigerator
ware.
The "Autumn Leaf" line is especially sought
after. The partnership of Hall China and the
Jewel Tea Company dates from the early to
mid-1920's. Teapots were offered as
premiums to customers. The "Autumn Leaf"
pattern, known as "Jewel Tea", appeared in
the 1930's and is still today one of the most
collectible of Hall China patterns offered to
the public. The "Morning Glory" pattern
appeared in the 1940's, but was never as
successful as "Autumn Leaf". Another
pattern, "Cameo Rose", was produced in the
1950's and has just become popular among
collectors. Another first for Hall China is the
production of the pattern "Blue
Blossom/Blue Garden"(1939). It is a
silk-screened decal on a cobalt blue glaze.
This was said to be the first time that cobalt
blue had been successfully used in vitrified
cookware.
The Hall China Company is still in production
today. It mainly produces for institutional
and commercial customers. Although
production has ceased since 1978 of the
China patterns, special pieces for National
Autumn Leaf Collectors Club and for a
private company, China Specialties have
been produced since and are sought after
by collectors.
MARKS
For information on identification and marks
of teapots Click Here!. This is a
non-commercial website maintained by an
individual for the use of Hall China
collectors. She will be happy to answer your
questions, if she can, but please do not ask
her to price your piece. There are also links
to other websites that may help you identify
your Hall teapots. For your Hall teapots
marks Click Here!.
References:
"Garage Sale and Flea Market Annual", 3rd
Edition
"Official Price Guide to Pottery and
Porcelain", 8th Edition
"Warman's Americana and Collectibles", 8th
Edition
"Schroeder's Antiques Price Guide" 18th
Edition, 2000
"Warman's Antiques and Collectibles Price
Guide", 32nd Edition
Next month's subject will be on Kay Finch Ceramics.
