Sunday Favorites: Mrs. Ward’s Clay Creations

Thsi vase made by Mrs. Ward is decorated by Florida fauna. Photo: Manatee Historic Archives

BRADENTON -- In almost every area in Florida, relics of Native American culture have been discovered. Shards of pottery and coral arrowheads lie undisturbed in the rich earth throughout the state. Manatee County pioneers found clay – the blue kind anyway—harder to come by than the natives did. Early reports place initial discoveries near Ellenton and Wares Creek. One industrious woman scoured area riverbanks and mud flats until she found what she was looking for –clay was her livelihood. Mrs. Ward’s clay creations were soon sought after all over the state.

 At the Ware’s Creek swimming hole, a broken piece of a soapstone deposit produced a good lather for filthy boys in lieu of a hot bath at home. The boys first created marbles out a clay deposit nearby, but the when local girls discovered the sediment, they sought it for more domestic purposes – pots and pans, dishes and cups. Unfortunately, even after a firing, the dry clay easily crumpled.  But a group of women would soon make a living off of a better sample.

In 1914, a woman by the name of Mary Ward settled on the northeast corner of Manatee Ave and 26^th Street. She came from New York with her two children, Helen and Jimmy.  She was originally from Tennessee and previously employed as an artist in the pottery business, but locals told her there was no good clay to be found. As a recent divorcee looking to provide for her family, Ward was not deterred. After exploring the entire Dole property on Terra Ceia, she traipsed up and down the Manatee River inspecting every part of the terrain. Finally she discovered a significant clay deposit at the 2700 block of Riverview Boulevard – it had been right under her nose the whole time!

Mrs. Ward employed many ambitious single women. Photo: Manatee Historic Archives

Production was done in the back of a house in Fogartyville. One wheel was run by electricity, but the other three were pumped by foot. Other than agricultural commerce and turpentine, Ward’s pottery business would soon become one of Manatee County’s first commercial endeavors – ironically it was owned and operated primarily by ambitious, single women.

On any given day, the sunlight would catch Ward’s ginger locks as she operated the foot pump of her treadle wheel while delicately shaping the clay with her slender hands.  She would then fire the piece at a very low temperature. Although she was an expert at shaping, Ward’s commissioned others to decorate her pottery. She employed Miss Carrie Phillips to paint the pieces with Florida scenes.  Carrie suddenly became “Caroline,” (a change that would surely influence locals to take her art seriously). Caroline’s name appears on many of the relics left of Ward’s work.

Candlesticks, bowls, vases and bases of lamps were adorned with Florida birds, palmettos, and beautiful palms. A body of water, whether it was a small puddle or rendition of the grand Manatee, was exhibited on each piece. When the clay was removed from the river, it was blue. But after it was fired it morphed into a distinct natural color that was common to every creation.  After being painted, Denise Shields did the waterproofing, which was a concoction of varnish and paint.

Display shelves are pictured in Ward's shop. Photo: Manatee Historic Archives

The low temperature of the kerosene kilns was never high enough to reach a glaze; therefor the pieces were far from waterproof, and served mainly decorative purposes. Still the popularity ensued.

While the businesses prospered, other local artists were employed to ornament the pottery; Mildred Bollinger and Frances Higgins also provided artistic attributions. Then a “real” artist by the name of Mr. Ireland (first name unknown) came to Manatee County from England.  His artistic expertise increased business even more.

Business was booming and Ward’s pottery was being marketed all over the country. At first, she’d scratch “Manatee River Art Pottery,” into the bottom, but later she used a stamp. She set up a small shop in downtown Bradenton. Ward summoned her old friend in New York, Henry A. Graack, to come down and help her expand after she heard his potter business was folding. The two worked together for a time, then in 1921 Mary sold her interest in the Manatee River Pottery to Graack and his son, Henry Jr. Mary then moved to Orlando where she started Orlando Potteries that same year.

These candlesticks were decorated by Ward's potter group. Photo: Manatee Historic Archives

Experienced potters were brought in from East Liverpool, England and Mr. Hunt from the Rookwood Pottery in Ohio. There were six artists at the pottery including Joseph Nash, Andrew De Vries and Panos Booziotes all graduates of the Art Institute of Chicago and T. Riggs of the Art Students League of New York

The Graacks changed the name of the pottery to Graack Pottery and continued production in Braidentown with plans for national distribution. A few years later the Graacks left the city. Henry Senior returned to Denmark and Henry Junior to New York City.

Today a collection of Ward and Graacks work is displayed at the Manatee Village Historical Park and local collectors still seek her works at antique shows, paying as much as $800 for a well preserved piece.

Sources:

Ward-Graack Pottery; A Brief History of Manatee River Art Pottery, presentation by Nick Baden to the Manatee Historical Society Feb. 16, 2011.

Manatee River Pottery presentation by Mrs. Dowd to the Manatee County Historical Society on Jan. 16, 1969 program meeting.

Frankle, Alfred R., Old Florida Potter: A Collector’s Guide to Historical Makers and Marks 1859-1966, Copyright July, 15 2000.