Ceramic Strawberries Pitcher

[GreenhornGirl]

Here's a pitcher I acquired...ivory colored glazed ceramic--thick almost like stoneware or yellowware--measures about 6.5"H.  Anyone recognize this pottery pattern or style?  Been checking McCoy, Roseville, and some others...still looking to try and identify a maker and age, etc. on this one.  It says USA imprinted on the bottom; I can't tell if there was anything else there besides the "USA".

Any tips would be greatly appreciated!

[ironlord1963]

   Try Hull they marked many of there items with just USA also

[GreenhornGirl]

Oh yes, that's right!  Thanks, ironlord, I'll check into that as well!

[GreenhornGirl]

Well, haven't found anything yet with the makers we've mentioned so far.  I did however just find a color painted version!  http://www.worthpoint.com/worthopedia/vintage-usa-1920s-40s-strawberry-50119389

Dang worthpoint.

Anyone know a test for determining stoneware vs. ceramic?  This one I'm just plumb unsure.

[GreenhornGirl]

Ah, this looks to be the same maker & pattern but a different shape.  Also color painted.  Calls it bisque...hmm.
http://cgi.ebay.com/American-Bisque-Strawberry-6-3-4-Pitcher-/220489666984

[GreenhornGirl]

Another!  I could find nothing & suddenly I'm finding a bunch in a row.
http://www.goantiques.com/detail,american-bisque-strawberry,266447.html

That one calls it bisque and "grazed" pottery which I'm assuming is a typo.

General consensus seems to be 1920s-1940s.  Strange that they all have the maker mark simply "USA"...could that be any harder to search for?  Jeepers.

[GreenhornGirl]

Don't mind me, I'm on a roll...apparently this is a cold paint pitcher and someone has it listed in their "book" but they don't say what book!  I love the mystery of trying to track stuff down    Here's one long URL for ya's: http://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?sclient=psy-ab&hl=en&site=&source=hp&q=cache%3Ahttp%3A%2F%2Fforums.ebay.com%2Fdb2%2Ftopic%2FPottery-Glass-Porcelain%2FPottery-Strawberries-Pitcher%2F510289665&pbx=1&oq=cache%3Ahttp%3A%2F%2Fforums.ebay.com%2Fdb2%2Ftopic%2FPottery-Glass-Porcelain%2FPottery-Strawberries-Pitcher%2F510289665&aq=f&aqi=g4&aql=1&gs_sm=e&gs_upl=449l1997l0l2171l7l4l0l0l0l0l235l404l0.1.1l2l0

Perhaps the paint on mine wore off, and someone re-glazed it later on?  Or it never got painted...

[snowflake]

A badly painted one:
http://www.bonanza.com/listings/Unusual-American-Bisque-Strawberry-Pitcher-USA/7933681

[GreenhornGirl]

Thx, snowflake!  Yeah, all the ones I'm finding are painted.  Hmm.  Well Ilately I've been more & more into vintage pottery and I'm curious now who stamped their ceramics w/just "USA".

[ironlord1963]

    I have had several marked just USA, and have never been able to pinpoint the maker on these.  I think lots of markers just put USA on the bottom of their pieces, but not exactly sure either. 

[GreenhornGirl]

Thanks, ironlord.  I believe you're right; after more research, I found that narrowing down the maker will be super difficult and probably not worth the time spent, so I'm just going to "move on" from this one 

I found some great info about pottery marked only with "USA" on these sites, if anyone comes across a piece like that in the future, these may help:
http://www.oldantiquepottery.info/usa-pottery.htm
http://cajunc.com/American_Pottery05.pdf

[snowflake]

Great links, GG! That's funny when they mentioned McCoy doing that in the beginning. Most I came across while searching for yours was a McCoy. Not saying yours is because I am totally clueless about this stuff. I hope one day you'll find out though!

[GreenhornGirl]

Thanks, snow!  I purchased McCoy pieces at the same place so it's entirely possible.  Possibilities would be Shawnee, McCoy, Hull, and few others from what I found...I also found some similar Wedgwood pieces, but those are made in England so couldn't be that.  If I ever do find out, I'll post it here!

[ironlord1963]

     Thanks Greenhorn that link is Awesome, It just help Id a couple of my pieces already.

[GreenhornGirl]

Good!  Yes, especially that PDF link is very helpful.

Another possibility is Watt...they marked some of their early wares only "USA" also.