Between 1902 and 1961, the Shenango China Company manufactured china, including the Castleton China dinnerware. The company experienced some financial issues during this time, which led to several name changes. The company was bought by Anchor Hocking in 1979. Between 1948 and 1968, dinnerware with the “Castleton China” mark was produced. Modern designs and distinctive decorations made this particular brand of china well-known. This dinnerware was very well-liked when it was being produced, and collectors can still find it today.
Look up the marking on your china in a reference book of porcelain and pottery marks at your local library.
Examine your dinnerware to see if it has a date code stamped on it. A date code can be found on the majority of Shenango Pottery Company’s china made after 1950.
Look to see if the item has the markings “Peter Terris,” “Epicure,” “IncaWare,” or “Interpace.” The Shenango China Company, the manufacturer of Castleton China dinnerware, uses these terms as some of the standard identifiers of its dinnerware.
Laura Jerpi has been working in marketing since 2007. She is an interactive copywriter who contributes to South Source, Ai InSite, and Thought Leadership Publications. Jerpi has a Master of Business Administration from Robert Morris University and a Bachelor of Arts in communications from the University of Pittsburgh.
Castleton China collaborated with Eva Zeisel, a Hungarian modern artist who taught at the Pratt Institute, in a partnership with the Museum of Modern Art, established in 1929. Zeisel created the freeform shape known as “Museum” for Castleton in 1941. Due to World War II, an exhibition of “Museum” at the MoMA was postponed; however, it was later on display in the exhibition Modern China, April 16–June 9, 1946. Several of Zeisel’s contemporaries, including Pablo Picasso, Marcel Vertes, Stuart Davies, Ching Chih Yee, Philip Costigan, Elsie Shaver, and Amedeo Modigliani (whose works can be seen hanging on the wall below), would exhibit alongside this service in the United States.
Due to the cheaper production of china being produced abroad, concerns emerged. Due to a sharp decline in sales between 1949 and 1951, Zahneiser petitioned Congress to extend tariffs on fine china. These concerns did not cease. Shenango China continued to suffer as the price of imported goods remained lower than the price of domestic goods. Shenango China had undergone numerous ownership changes before closing its doors in 1991, leaving behind a legacy that spanned at least 82 years.
Louis Hellmann, a representative of the German Rosenthal China Company, met with James M. Smith, Sr. , realizing that a war in Europe was about to break out, decided to form a fine china company with money invested by Shenango Pottery and Louis Hellman as a Shenango Pottery subsidiary company. The production would take place in New Castle, Pennsylvania, and the corporate offices would be in New York, NY. This fine china subsidiary was named Castleton China.
In 1948, James M. Smith, Sr. James M. retired, passing Shenango Pottery’s ownership and management to him. Smith, Jr. Shenango Pottery moved their corporate offices from New York, NY to New Castle, PA in 1951 after buying the remaining Castleton China stock from Hellmann. In 1952, Smith, Jr. died and George Zahneiser became President.
In order to compete with the nearby New Castle Pottery, Shenango China set up shop in New Castle, Pennsylvania. The pottery companies experienced financial problems from their start in 1901 until 1909. It was in 1909 that James M. Smith, Sr. took control of Shenango China with a group of investors and renamed it Shenango Pottery. He quickly relocated the business to the New Castle Pottery building and grew it in 1912. Shenango Pottery emerged as the nation’s top manufacturer of hotel and restaurant china in 1927.
Shenango doubled in size between 1939 and 1949, but due to a number of factors, including the costly expansion program that was undertaken without long-term financing, the company was in dire financial straits. A request for a long-term loan was made to the reconstruction finance corporation. This was approved. Due to two strikes that occurred during the 1950s labor unrest, the company’s financial situation significantly suffered.
The Shenango Indian, a representation of the first American potters, serves as a constant reminder of the plant’s service, dependability, quality, and ever-present commitment and talent of its workers. “The Pottery” has not only contributed to our local and international fame. Does this sound interesting? Share with your friends!.
On May 5, 1940, Castleton China was established under the laws of the state of New York. Mr. Helleman held the majority of the stock. Despite the fact that Shenango pottery produced the goods, held stock, and had a board representative, Mr. Helleman. Shenango Pottery Company bought Castleton’s outstanding stock in August 1951.
Interpace Corporation purchased Shenango Ceramics and its fully owned subsidiaries in 1968. Interpace already manufactured Franciscan (earthenware) and fine china. The plant was enlarged and updated while being run by Interpace. New bisque kilns, decorating kilns, and a full cup system were constructed. Additionally, they introduced the “Valiela” decorating method, which significantly decreased the price of print. 11 years later, in 1979, Interpace sold the Shenango plant to the Lancaster, Ohio-based Anchor Hocking Corporation. Anchor Hocking installed computerized body batch making, new clay forming, decorating, and firing equipment as part of its ongoing modernization.
More changes soon were to come. Shenango China was sold by Anchor Hocking to the Freeport, Illinois-based Newell Company in 1987. Six months later, they sold the facility to Syracuse China’s parent company, Canadian Pacific. Syracuse closed the plant and reorganized. Former employees had to reapply for their positions. Many were not hired back.