| Cowan used various markings to distinguish his
pottery through the years. Early
red or buff clay pieces made between 1912 and 1919 were hand-signed or initialed
by Cowan and the words “Cowan Pottery” or “Lakewood Ware” were
incised or painted on the bottom. |
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Mark # 1
Mark # 2
Mark # 3 |
| When the
studio began using a high-fired porcelain in 1920, most of the pieces
were marked with a blue or black ink stamp.
The stamp showed a stylized initial and the name “COWAN” or
the words “COWAN POTTERY” or simple “COWAN”.
A few pieces made of white porcelain were still hand-signed but
these were rare. |
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Mark # 4
Mark # 5
Mark # 6 Mark # 7 |
| From the
mid-twenties, all markings on molded wares were impressed marks. These were the words “COWAN” or “LAKEWARE” or a
distinctive mark incorporating Cowan’s initials and his last name.
Starting about 1927, wheel thrown pieces were occasionally made
in a grayish buff stoneware clay body. These usually had
hand incised artist monograms. |
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Mark # 8
Mark # 9
Mark # 10 |
| There was
also a 1-1/2” square silver and black foil label in use after the
reorganization in 1929. The
label shows the new name of the company and the city, “The Cowan
Potters Inc. Rocky River, O”. Supposedly
used on the ceramic lamp bases produced by the studio in these years, it
has also been found on one of the vases of that period. |
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| Note: Photographs of Cowan Factory marks and
artists signatures can be found in Cowan
Pottery and The Cleveland School (p345-354). |
