I’ve come across this company name enough times to create a separate page for it. These are items marked “Ideal” so we’ll stick with Ideal Pottery for the name until more information is found on it. So far, I’ve seen dinnerware (mostly platters), ashtrays and gardenware planters from them. Their ware sometimes tends toward the flamboyant, using colors like pink and bright green, often gilded with gold. Other times, they’re more understated like this white speckle handled platter above that I spotted at the thrift store one day.

Items are usually marked on the back with “Ideal” and “Calif USA”. An item number is sometimes given, often a 2 letter, 2 digit combination. I’ve no idea when the items were produced, but from the style I’m guessing it’s the usual 1950s to 1960s.

Update: 1/2010 In one of the Fall 1956 issues of Ceramics Industry, I spotted a blurb about the “Ideal Ceramic Co. of Southern California, Los Angeles.” It states that the company “has a group of utility pieces - sugar, creamer, salt and pepper set - on a brass holder with handles, adapted for serving informally. Another group on a brass holder consists of a coffee pot, creamer and sugar.” So we know that the company existed at least in 1956.

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Note: We've tried to provide as much info as possible on this pottery maker or artist. For further info, you may want to research the items they have on Ebay listed under this name. We've tried to hand tailor the searches below so they will bring up the most accurate results. If there are no results, it will list general California pottery.