Circa 1940 Niloak Pottery “Flying Eagle” Pitcher

Description

Excellent Pre-Owned Condition.

Charmingly unique, this Niloak Pottery pitcher was made in the early 1940s, during World War II. The … more Excellent Pre-Owned Condition.

Charmingly unique, this Niloak Pottery pitcher was made in the early 1940s, during World War II. The design features two raised panels featuring a flying eagle within each panel with an abstract row of clouds beneath and a few stars scattered to the left and right of the eagle. I believe this pitcher is part of the Winged Victory collection Niloak introduced in the late 1930s. The Niloak raised mold mark with dot dot dot dash, representing the letter V for Victory used during World War II (1939-1945), is on the bottom. My understanding is that this collection was offered in seven colors, matte green being the color of this pitcher, and the rarest of the colors. It measures 9¾” x 3¾” x 2½” H/W/D; weight 1 lb. 9 oz.; matte finish subdued green hue with minimal light undertones surrounding the wings and stars; medium is fine-grade clay that was sourced near Benton. In excellent condition with wear that is typical for a piece that is over 80 years old. There is one semi-rough spot under the front right corner that is a result of a glaze pop (see photo 10) that occurred during firing (when air bubbles reached the surface of the glaze and burst) that is indiscernible unless you turn it upside down.

Did you know that Niloak was the creation of Benton, Arkansas native Charles Dean “Bullet” Hyten and an Ohio potter named Arthur Dovey. Hyten grew up in the business, taking over his stepfather’s Benton pottery in partnership with his brothers, Paul and Lee, in 1895. The Hyten Brothers Pottery produced jugs, crocks and churns for local and regional use. Paul and Lee left the business by 1901 and Charles entered into a partnership with Alfred Warren, renaming the company Eagle Pottery but continuing the production of utilitarian pieces. Dovey had learned the trade in the famous Ohio potteries, working for a time at the Rookwood Pottery in Cincinnati. He moved to Arkansas sometime before 1906 and went to work for Hyten at Eagle in 1909, helping create the first line of art pottery. The name Niloak is the word kaolin spelled backward. Kaolin is a type of fine-grade clay found near Benton and used in the production of the company’s pottery, and consequently, the name the company used to mark their pottery.

For a collector of Niloak Pottery, this unique beauty will be a great add to that collection or the perfect gift for someone who is.

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