Niloak Pottery Basic Information
What is Niloak Pottery?
Niloak Pottery produced art ceramics in Benton, Arkansas from 1910 through1947.
The Niloak Pottery began making arts and crafts ceramics in 1910 as the Eagle Pottery Company. They are best known for the "Mission Swirl" line, a marble neriage style. Niloak also produced cast-ware from molds, mostly planters and vases until they went bankrupt in 1947.
As the premiere manufacturer of art pottery in Arkansas, vintage Niloak Pottery is highly collectible, especially to those who enjoy the mission swirl line. These pieces fit perfectly with prairie-style decorative scheme, and the prices are average when compared to many other period potteries. The wide range of clay earth-tone combinations allow decorators to fit almost any color palette, especially when utilizing the simpler forms.
How was Mission Swirl Made?
Originally, the Mission Swirl was made from three naturally-colored local clays: Cream, Brown, and Gray. By adding chemicals to clay batches, the other colors (Red, White, and Blue) were created. The various colored clays were pressed together, and then sliced with a wire into blocks for shaping with a jig. Later, the process was refined by pressing the blocks into molds to facilitate higher production requirements. This process was known for centuries in Japan as both Neriage and Nerikomi.
Selections from 1913 Niloak Pottery Catalog
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