Posted 7 years ago
billretire…
(593 items)
About 18 years ago, at a garage sale in Martinez, Calif. I found this hand made pottery Whale sculpture, about a foot long, and was marked hand written Stan on the bottom. I asked the man selling, if he knew who Stan was, or anything about the piece. He said that his father had bought it from the artist, years before down by Monterey, Calif. where the artist was from, and that he had paid a lot for it. I asked how much he wanted, but the price was too high, I really liked the way that it was made, like it was just mashed together, yet was smooth, solid, and heavy, I asked if he would take any less, and he said that another guy might be back for it, but if I had the cash now, I could have it for $10. less, still too much but I had to have it, and paid the price he wanted.
When I got home, I searched, and searched, but found nothing on the Potter/artist Stan, but a few months later, I found another piece, marked Stan, and then later some large Trout bookends, marked the same, but not until I found the Turtle, on the wood base, that is in the pictures, while searching it, I finally found, another one on the internet, but still no info, just Stan. Since that time I have found many other figures, figurines, bowls, cups, and many plaques, and finally a sticker "Shapes Of Clay", by Stan Langtwait, and then an article from a news paper, on the internet,
Logger Builds Million Dollar Business, this is from that article:
"He didn't find deposits of gold or silver, but clay.
Starting in the 1950s. Langtwait used the substance to build a small empire, creating pottery known as Shapes of Clay at a factory in Graham, Wash. until his death in 1980."
So what the seller in Martinez, told about the Whale, was a tale, or all he knew! I still like the way Stan's Shapes Of Clay, look, and still find them, like my newest piece the large owl, that I found at a Thrift Store, last week! My wife never has liked these pottery pieces, until I found, and gave her the Hummingbird Plaque, and stand! :^D
The Plaque is approx. 7" dia.
The Owl is 6" tall, 3" wide
The Turtle is 4" long, 3" wide, and 2" tall, on a 5" dia. wood base
The Cat is 2 1/2" long, 1 1/2" wide, 1 1/2" tall
The Gecko is cast iron
Thank you for looking, I'll post a link to the Article in Comments! :^)
Here's the link:
http://tdn.com/lifestyles/logger-built-million-dollar-business-from-clay-of-the-cascades/article_35939c0e-072b-11e0-9fdc-001cc4c002e0.html
Thanks again, any comments welcome! :^)
Thanks fortapache, for lookin, and lovin! :^)
Thanks for stopping by for a look,
Judy
Roy
and JImam,
and for loving what you saw, much appreciated! :^)
Hey Thomas, and Vintagefran, thanks for stopping by for a look, and loving these Logger Made pottery pieces! I thought they would love to be seen, with a pile of logs! I'm glad you did too! :^)
Hey Kevin, again always good to see ya, and get some love, too! :^)
bb2 was here, and loved these too! Thank you much! :^)
Always good to see you visit my posts, fortapache, and love um, thanks! :^)
I have a set of 24 (minus one) of lighthouse plates. I had them hanging in my cafe in Westport Wa. and the Westport light came up missing, If youcome across one I would be very interested.
Hey tdugan47, I'll keep a lookout for one, every time that I come across one of these Stan plaques! Thanks for your comment! :^)
Saw awesome! That’s a great story!!
Thanks Belbivdavini, glad you saw it, and always happy to help! :^)
I bought a storage unit off auction a week ago. It held a nice clay horse by Stan. Its very interesting. Wonder if its worth some money.
Thanks for your comment Brandon, this is from the link above:
Anyone with items or information about Shapes of Clay may contact Mike McNew at mikemcnew59@yahoo.com.
I don't know if this is still good, but it can't hurt to try, they might be able to help you! :^D
Thank you for the love, aura and hunterqlee, it's appreciated! :^)
Thank you for the love Stuff! :^)
I love your pieces. I just recently acquired 2 of his sailing ship wall plaques. I had no idea who he was until I googled and found your post. Thank you for the information you provided. I will definitely be on the hunt for any future pieces.