The iconic Gainey Ceramics cylinder planter has become a symbol of mid century design. Its simple shape, clean lines, and multitude of colors have turned this humble bit of pottery into a design star. A quick search online will return lots of high priced examples of these modern looking pots. Yet Gainey Ceramics made loads of styles, most much less popular, but all made to the same high quality standards.
Begun in 1949, the company, based in La Verne, California, was one of the oldest ceramics companies in the area. Southern California in that era was a hotbed of local ceramics productions with hundreds of companies producing pottery for both residential and commercial use. Gainey was one of the last companies still owned and run by the original family in the same location. Sadly, they closed their doors on January 31, 2013.
Since then, prices for Gainey planters have skyrocketed with the cylinder planter at the top of the price range. With mid century design remaining in fashion and the trend toward styling with live plants only growing, these planters have become more popular than ever.
Designers and architects regularly use these clean lined planters in their installations. The solid colors and straightforward style enhance but don’t overwhelm the overall plan. Whether the public recognized it or not, Gainey Ceramics was also one of environmentally cleanest producers of ceramic pottery. As part of the U.S. Green Building Council the company was committed to sensitivity to the environment and a commitment to doing the right thing. The company was a pioneer of of compliance with early EPA Clean Air regulations, reusing all of the clay and water as well as trapping any glaze overspray and filtering it out prior to venting air outside the plant.
Perhaps the attention to quality, environmental care, and family business ethos led to Gainey Ceramics continuing to be in demand years after the company closed. As long as mid-century style remains popular, so too will the iconic Gainey Ceramics planters and pots. To learn more about Gainey Ceramics you can check out one of their catalogs here as well as several articles about the company over the years in the local newspaper La Verne Online here.
If you are a lover of vintage pottery, check out some of our other posts on vintage ceramics and pottery here.
1 comment
You’re right, Pam, the Gainey Ceramics company certainly deserves the “iconic” label. Even that calendar you linked to is a work of art. Thanks for sharing!