Niloak Mission Swirl Pottery Bud Vase-2nd Art Mark-Arts & Crafts-Benton AR

  

After joining his stepfather's firm Eagle Pottery of Benton, Arkansas in 1895, Charles Hyten built the company into the largest pottery in the state by 1904. The firm was joined by Arthur Dovey moving over from Rookwood in 1909 and changed the name to Niloak.

The company name was derived from the locally accessible clay kaolin spelled backwards. The owners developed a type of pottery utilizing different colors of clay mixed together and formed on the spinning wheel into assorted shapes by the potters. This created a swirling effect visible on the pieces which ultimately became popular with the public.

This process was patented in 1909 with the first line running from 1910 to 1924. Examples were marked with a die impressed company name and classified as the first art mark. Starting in 1925, the company slightly changed the impression and used the 2nd art mark until the end of mission swirl line in the early 1930's.

Throughout the production, often a circular paper label was also applied to the pieces. After this point, the company developed and marketed other designs of art pottery, the firm ultimately closing in 1947. Perhaps the most popular style from the Niloak Pottery were their mission swirl products. A collection of Nylo swirl pottery is never complete without a few of these bud vases included in the grouping. I have seen these vases anywhere from 6 inches to nearly 10 inches tall sometimes with raised bands molded into the clay. This fine example stands a full 7" tall and measures 3 3/8" diameter across the base. After cleaning inspection, I can find no chips, cracks, damage or repairs. The bottom has the impressed 2nd art mark as well as remnants of the original circular label clearly visible.

Please view all pictures as they are considered part of the description. Please check back to my listings often as I would be posting numerous fine examples of glass, pottery and porcelain in the near future.