20th Century

Tacoma was the name given to the Tea Leaf pieces - one of the five body styles of ironstone produced by Knowles, Taylor and Knowles. It has an oval or round footprint and an elyptical finial. Arched embossing is present on the sides of the ware.

Wedgwood's (1880s) version of this body style is probably the best known and the most abundant of the Square Ridged varieties. Its popularity is attested by Red Cliff's reproduction of it in the 1960's. Johnson Brothers also made this shape but it is less plentiful.

Teh basic square shape is softened by a slight flare to the waist and the inward curve of the ribbing which extends to the bracket feet. The bracket handle is also slightly curved.

This is believed to be the body style name that Ford China company, of Ford City, Pennsylvania, marked its tea leaf wares with.  The body style is a fancy shape with a low waist, ear shaped handles that connect at the top of the neck and at the middle of the waist.  It includes an impressed medley of flowers and leaves.  The spout on pitchers is slightly elongated and the rim is heavily scalloped.

This body style features bracket handles, pagoda finials and beading on the handles - hence the name!

This Simple Square body style by Cartwright Brothers Pottery Company boasts bracket handles, Pagoda finials and an embossed pattern of small geometric flower petals and ovals on the upturned handles. This potter is known for their creamy color but very white colored pottery pieces are also known. The gold Tea Leaf is often the horizontal or "lying down" version (coined by Annise Heavilin) but a simplified Tea Leaf with no bud that is vertical is known.

This simple square body style flares gently outward to the low waist, then is abruptly indented to the recessed base. It is named for the oriental flavor of the arch finials and handles. The Steubenville Pottery version is often decorated with a Tea Plum also called the Tea Leaf lollypop.

This is a generic category which includes scalloped rim pieces, both flat and hollow, that have no specialized embossing. In addition, it includes the scalloped rim bone dishes, butter pats, and nappies.

This Square Ridged body style was produced by Burford Brothers and sports large ear-shaped handles and horizontal flattened finials. Decorated with gold stylized Tea Leaf without buds, it does look like a sturdy ware that would celebrate the bounty of the day.

Plain Round is a term we use to describe a variety of wares by different potters. These wares are typically of a simple bulbous shape, unadorned and may have been produced for institutions such as hotels or restaurants and Inns. Durability was the drawing card, yet there is beauty in the simplicity of the lines. They were not necessarily manufactured to go with one body style but with many different ones. Plain Round can be found in children's and adult wares, as well as in bath and dinnerware items.