Did you know that Coors once manufactured more than just cold brews?
On November 3, 1914, Coloradans voted to adopt statewide prohibition, which would take effect on January 1, 1916. Adolph Coors, knowing that his brewery business in Golden would soon be shuttered, turned his interests to a new business: ceramics.
In 1915, Adolph Coors' two sons, Adolph, Jr. and Herman, took the helm at the Herold China and Pottery Company in Golden, Colorado. The brothers were interested in using their chemistry knowledge to create durable porcelain products that ranged from dinnerware to battery cells needed for World War I.
Why ceramics? Golden's soil possessed the deposits necessary to making porcelain:
The clay deposits of the eastern slope of the mountains for many miles on either side of Golden have long attracted the attention of scientists and have been the subject of much study...Fine pottery has been made with the material from the Golden clay pits for several years...The celebrated Castle Rock at Golden and other rock-capped mesas west of Denver are composed of volcanic rock of no great depth. Below this volcanic covering is deposited the valuable clay in unlimited quantities. -The Denver Times, February 10, 1915
In late 1920, the Herold China and Pottery Company became the Coors Porcelain Company. When Prohibition was repealed in 1933, the Coors Company turned its focus back to brewing beer, but continued manufacturing dinnerware and labware.
Today, what was once Coors Porcelain Company has become CoorsTEK, a manufacturer of technical ceramics and other specialty materials. Their corporate headquarters is still located in Golden, Colorado.
Want to learn more about Coors pottery? Visit DPL's Western History/Genealogy Department to see several titles relating to the Coors Porcelain Company.
Comments
are there Colorado state fair
are there Colorado state fair 1939 worth anything mikekeenan12@yahoo.com
Hi, Michael! Although we are
Hi, Michael! Although we are not able to provide monetary value appraisals, we can direct you to a database of appraisers through the Appraisers Association of America.
I have a tea or coffee pot
I have a tea or coffee pot and 3 oval'ish serving dishes of this pottery. I need to know the value for insurance. I checked the above database and there is no one within 100 miles of me that does American Pottery.. Any other suggestions?
Thank you
Michel Shiplet
If you are unable to travel
If you are unable to travel or find an appraiser who can arrange a visit with you, I would suggest accessing the 2017 Kovels' Antiques & Collectibles Price Guide / By Ralph And Terry Kovel. Kovels also has a website (note that it is subscription-based, however). You may also want to check out eBay to get a sense of how similar items are being priced. Hope this helps.
I have a two part coffee pot
I have a two part coffee pot gazebo pattern. I have tried to get some information on this piece but the only thing I have found was an article written in the Rocky Mountain News that talks about the coffee pot.
Hi, Pamela! You might want to
Hi, Pamela! You might want to peruse several titles relating to the Coors Porcelain Company that are available to view in the Western History and Genealogy Department.
I worked for SYMMONS
I worked for SYMMONS industries for over 40 years Paul Symmons designed a washerless faucet that originally used ceramic discs that were purchased from Coors Porcelain Co in the early 70s
We have 2 vases from this
We have 2 vases from this period. One is an orange earthen color, the other is a pretty green. My husband has always said they were worth something, but looking at Ebay, we see the the same orange vase we have being sold both at $230. and $50. I'd like to sell our 2 vases as a pair, they are in perfect condition,so what's our best resource? My email is broadwaypilatesltd@nyc.rr.com. Thx, Julie
I have what looks to me to be
I have what looks to me to be some sort of paddle that is white porcelain and is almost 12 inches long. It has a knob on one end from that end it stays round for 3 inches then it flattens out starting at one inch and widenes to one and three quarters at the end. It has the markings of
COORS
USA
5
on it halfway up the 3 inch round portion. I have no idea what this item is. Can someone enlighten me. I would be glad to send pictures if that would help in identification. My email is ltdconst_1964@icloud.com. Thanks in advance.
Hi, Brad! You might want to
Hi, Brad! You might want to take a look at several titles relating to the Coors Porcelain Company that are available to view in the Western History and Genealogy Department. If you aren't able to visit us, you can place your request in our Contact Form and a staff member can spend some time researching this item. Given the volume of requests we are receiving, please allow 4 to 6 weeks for us to process your request. Thanks for reading and commenting!
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