Niloak Pottery
By Barbara Nicholson Bell
Every once in a while you may come across a strange-looking pottery vase, covered in swirls in the earthy tones of cream, beige, earth brown, and dusty blue. The colors aren't created by a glaze or painting, but seem to be part of the material itself. In fact, this is true. No two of these smallish vases look alike, for the process is entirely random. Characterized by an upwardly clockwise-spiraling pattern, soft colors and blurred lines, each piece is unique -- in fact at one point, the manufacturer offered a reward of $1,000 to anyone who could find two pieces with identical swirl patterns.
The name of this intriguing pattern is Missionware, but it is more commonly called by the manufacturer's name, Niloak. The name Niloak itself has an interesting origin, for it is "kaolin" spelled backwards. Kaolin is the type of clay found in the region of central Arkansas near the town of Benton, where the pottery company was located. Kaolin is a very white clay, and large deposits of it are found in Asia where porcelain manufacturing first began.
The Niloak company's origins were in the mid-1860's beginning as a small family-run business making salt-glazed earthenware, for the needs of the local area. The founder, John Hyten, passed the business on to his three sons, Paul, Charles and Lee. By 1906, Charles was the sole member left with the pottery. He then renamed it the Eagle Pottery Company. The Eagle Pottery Company continued on in the tradition of producing crocks, butter churns, and jugs.
Around 1910, Charles became interested in a new process of swirl design in the clay. Arthur Dovey, a potter formerly with Rookwood Pottery, had crafted a technique to allow multi-color swirling in the making of his works. Together, Hyten and Dovey began introducing this attractive pottery in the local area, where it soon became popular with tourists stopping in Benton on their way from Little Rock to the Hot Springs health resort. By 1911, the firm had perfected its marbleized pottery in which the cream and brown tones of both natural and artificially colored clays were formed by random swirling. They called it "Missionware" in keeping with the Arts and Crafts movement of the day.
Most of the pieces have an interior glaze. Some of the first-year examples had an exterior glaze, as well. This was found to darken the finished product, obscuring the swirl patterns, so was discontinued, making these extremely rare. Later pieces have an unglazed, satin-like exterior. Most have a mark incised into the base of the piece, but a few carried paper labels.
Sales of the unusual Missionware were very good, leading the company's investor/owners to put large amounts of money into expanded facilities throughout the 1920's. Like many American potteries, however, the Depression found them overextended financially, and to contain costs the Missionware line was slowly discontinued in favor of cheaper productions. A glazed and molded line of pottery was introduced known as Hywood. (See Photo above.) Even this popular line of pottery did not help the investors, who eventually sold the company back to Charles Hyten. During World War II, production was changed over to the making of clay pigeons for the Army.
Charles Hyten died in a drowning accident in 1940. In 1945, shortly after the end of the war, a devastating fire swept through the factory from which it never truly recovered. By 1947, Niloak Pottery had ceased production.
About the Author:
I have been a writer all my life, a collector of various interesting and old things, a traveler and an artist. More importantly, I've been a mother to four fine sons and grandmother to one very smart young lady. In these capacities and a few miscellaneous others, I've pursued a number of careers. I formerly wrote for Suite101.com on the topics Antiques & Collectibles and Design How-To (formerly, Interior Decorating for Beginners) as well as managing the Arts & Crafts section and several courses and newsletters to do with gardening, the home, and family. My articles have been gathered in two Best of Suite e-books entitled Antiques & Collectibles: The Design Periods, and The Collector's Encyclopedia, vols I & II.
Another stage in my life begins as Editor for Suite101's Home and Garden section. I can now legitimately focus on my passions for interior decorating, gardening and writing all at once!
Recently I was assigned the Health section as well. As the health of my family and myself are of utmost importance to me, I feel honored to have this responsibility. Meanwhile, if other avenues of self-expression present themselves to me, I may follow them as well. Some other very important interests include my husband Russ, Paris (and everything French), and golf.
Article courtesy of Suite101.com.
