In 1991, we began an adventure to share our love of Cowan Pottery with others. Beginning with the collection and archives at the Rocky River Library, and then furthering our research from there, we created the photo-rich catalog of pottery items you now see here. After years of research, the book finally came to fruition in 1993. You can still find used copies on Amazon, Abe, and other sites. Here's a few highlights from our Collector's Encyclopedia of Cowan Pottery book.

Cowan Pottery Artists at a Glance

• Aitken, Russell B.—Aitken, though not employed by Cowan Pottery, was known to have elaborately decorated Cowan blanks such as the "Trojan Horse Charger."
• Anderson, Elizabeth—Anderson designed such items as the "Spanish Dancers," "Pierrot" and "Pierette."
• Atchley, Whitney—Atchley was more of a designer than a pottery producer. He worked for Cowan in 1931 before graduating from the Cleveland School of Art.
• Baggs, Arthur E.—Baggs was officially associated with the Cowan Pottery from 1925 -1928. Guy Cowan and Baggs had been fellow students at the Alfred Clayworking School in New York. Baggs, who is best known for his association with Marblehead Pottery, helped create many of the unique Cowan glazes.
• Blazys, Alexander—A Russian-born American, created many striking designs for Cowan Pottery. He was first discovered by Cowan in 1927 after winning the Cleveland May Show with his wood sculptures of the "Russian Dancers." These, and others, were successfully converted into pottery wares.
• Bogatay, Paul—Bogatay created several limited editions.
• Cowan, R. (Reginald) Guy—Of course no list would be complete without Guy himself who was a skilled artist and potter in his own right.
• Eckhardt, Edris—Participating in a collaborative ceramics program with the Cleveland School of Art and Cowan Pottery, Eckhardt earned her fame in her post-Cowan years as part of the WPA (Works Projects Administration).
• Frazier Winter, Thelma—Frazier Winter designed and decorated many works for Cowan including the fragile-looking blue-green undersea plates.
• Gregory, Waylande De Santis—Cowan first displayed Gregory wares in a 1928 New York show. He later relocated to Cleveland where he did a great deal of designing for the pottery. He was described by R. Guy Cowan as "perhaps the most brilliant sculptor we have who is working in ceramics... He is brilliant, sophisticated..."
• Hummel, Richard O.—Though he considered himself a chemist more than a potter, this one-time high school student started working for Cowan in 1912. After college, he took over as Cowan's head chemist after Arthur Baggs left in 1928.
• Schreckengost, Viktor—A Cleveland School graduate, Schreckengost studied abroad when he met Cowan who enticed him back to Cleveland. Best known for his striking sgraffitto technique used on the "Jazz Bowls," he created some of Cowan's most sought-after designs.
• Other noteworthy artists include: Raoul Josset, Margaret Postgate, Paul Manship, Jose' Martin, Herman Matzen, Luis F. Mora, Elmer L. Novotny, Stephan Rebeck, Guy E. Rixvord, Elsa Vick Shaw, Walter Sinz, Frank N. Wilcox, Edward H. Winter, Joseph Motto, Alvin MacDonald, Dalzee.

Cowan Pottery Awards at a Glance

• 1917—Art Institute of Chicago Annual Exhibition of Applied Art. Cowan Pottery won the Mrs. J. Ogden Armour Prize of $50.
• 1924—Art Institute of Chicago, Mr. & Mrs. Frank A. Logan medal award of $25 for the "Logan" vase. The glaze, jet black, also won an award.
• 1925—Cleveland Museum of Art, May Show, 1st prize for the "Scarf Dancer" in a bowl.
• 1926—Cleveland Museum of Art, May Show, 1st prize for the "Swirl Dancer" in a bowl.
• 1927—Cleveland Museum of Art, May Show, 1st prize, frog in a bowl. 1st prize, ceramic sculpture, Blazys "Russian Peasants," and "Moses." 2nd prize, pottery, Arthur Baggs and Guy Cowan.
• 1928—Cleveland Museum of Art, May Show, 1st prize, R. Guy Cowan, ceramic sculpture, "Madonna and Child," limited edition of 25. Chicago Annual Exhibition, 1st prize, Guy Cowan, "Madonna and Child."
• 1929—Cleveland Museum of Art, May Show, 1st prize, Waylande Gregory, "Salome," "Margarita," "Diana and Two Fawns."
• 1930—Cleveland Museum of Art, May Show, 1st prize, Thelma Frazier and Guy Cowan, "Octogan plate." 1st prize, Waylande Gregory, "Nautch Dancer" and "Leda."
• 1931—Cleveland Museum of Art, May Show, 1st prize, Waylande Gregory, "Beaten Dog." 1st prize, pottery, Viktor Schreckengost, "New Year's Eve in New York City" (the "Jazz Bowl").

Cowan Pottery History at a Glance

• 1912—R. Guy Cowan opens his first studio in Lakewood, Ohio, where he produces a small amount of art pottery and ceramic tiles.
• 1913—The Cleveland Pottery and Tile Company, Inc. is formed with R. Guy Cowan as its president, W.G. Wilcox as vice president, and Bertha Cowan (Cowan's wife) as its secretary.
• 1917—Cowan receives his first taste of recognition, (see award winners) but his creativity is put on hold with the U.S.'s participation in WW1.
• 1919—Cowan reopens his Lakewood studio and enters the Cleveland May Show using wares similar to the 1917 winners.
• 1921—Due to the extinction of his gas well, Cowan relocates his shop to Rocky River, Ohio. With the help of Wendell G. Wilcox, a national dealer organization is set up with some 1,200 outlets for pottery distribution including stores such as Marshall Field's of Chicago, Wanamaker's of New York, and Halle's of Cleveland.
• 1925—Arthur E. Baggs (Marblehead Pottery) begins teaching at the Cleveland School of Art and working closely with Cowan in glaze formulation.
• 1927—The company name is officially changed to "Cowan Pottery Studio, Inc."
• 1929—Financial difficulties force Cowan to reorganize the company under the name "Cowan Potters., Inc." with Howard O. Eels Jr., as chairman, Cowan as president, and C. C. Berry as vice president and general manager. Local supporters promise $100,000 in the hopes of starting an artists' colony; this is never to be realized.
• 1930—Despite recruiting artists Viktor Schreckengost and Jose' Martin, the Depression takes hold of the pottery sending it into receivership.
• 1931—The pottery remains open under the direction of the court in order to sell off the remaining inventory. During this time some of the company's most artistic sculptures are created.
• 1932 and beyond—Cowan begins working the for Ferro Enamel Company in Cleveland (as a research engineer) and the Onondaga Pottery Company in Syracuse, New York (as a consultant and art director) by working alternate weeks. At the prodding of Mrs. Cowan to choose one or the other, Cowan moves to Syracuse where he becomes affiliated with the Syracuse Museum of Art (now Everson).

*View the shape listing on the links page.