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A national non-profit organization dedicated to the appreciation, preservation, and promotion
of Frankoma pottery as a collectible.

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FINDING FRANKOMA

By Jay Frazier—Burbank, CA

Tips for the new Collector

One of the joys of my life has been collecting Frankoma Pottery. I know some of you have only recently discovered the fun, excitement and challenge of collecting Frankoma. So for you new collectors, and for those who live far from the Sooner State, I hope the following hints and insights will help you expand and improve your new collection.

Collecting Tip #1

Buy what you like! With that in mind, how do you build the Frankoma collection of your dreams? It’s a numbers game. The more places you look, the more Frankoma you’re likely to come across. Spend a couple of weekends a month just “pottery prowling.” I usually have to be content with antique stores and malls here in California. There just isn’t much Frankoma to be found at garage sales out here in the Far West. My thinking is, the bigger the mall and the more dealers there are, the better your chances of finding Frankoma items for sale.

I try to hit the big malls at least every three months. If you’re lucky enough to have a few local dealers who actually look for and carry Frankoma, visit them about once a month. Always let those dealers know what you’re looking for, too, as many of them keep “want lists” and will let you know if they have something you might be interested in.

Collecting Tip #2

Even the humblest shop or crummiest flea market may hold a treasure! I don’t go to small shops or junky flea markets on a regular basis. Some are just too scary to even stop at. But it’s not a bad idea to check them out every now and then. It just may be the very place you’ll find that terrific deal you’re looking for. Remember though, it’s difficult to see cracks and chips in dark shops and on dirty items. If you’re interested in a piece, always take it to a lighted area and examine it closely. If you’re headed for a jam-packed, dark and dusty kind of store, you may even want to take along a flashlight.

Collecting Tip #3

Go to pottery shows! They are great places to find Frankoma. Usually the prices are higher, but those dealers specialize in rare and unusual pieces.

Publications like the Antique Trader or local antique magazines are good places to learn where and when these shows are held. Be sure to sign up for the drawing at the front door. They make a mailing list from those and will send you cards to let you know about future shows. The post cards they send usually give you a dollar discount on admission, too.

Depression Glass shows have pottery, too. I was at a show in San Jose when I found one of the early Seated Figure Bookends. I would never have guessed she’d be sitting there with all that glassware, but there she was, along with a couple of other Frankoma pieces.

Collecting Tip #4

Get at least one guidebook and know it well. The more you know about Frankoma, the better collector you’ll be. The guidebooks are a great tool for learning about Frankoma, especially for the beginner. Remember that antique dealers in general know “a little bit about a lot.” As a Frankoma collector, many times you’ll know more about Frankoma than the person selling it. Even if you’re a beginner, chances are you’ll be the expert, not the dealer. The two newer guides, Frankoma and Other Oklahoma Potteries by Phyllis and Tom Bess and Collector’s Guide to Frankoma Pottery by Gary Schaum have gotten wide distribution. So dealers all over the country are also using them as a resource (more for pricing than for correct identification, in my opinion). I’ve seen brand new Frankoma straight out of the factory priced like old, unusual or rare pieces. That’s why we as collectors must be well informed. Without a guidebook, you’ll run a greater risk of making some really bad purchases. A copy of the current Frankoma catalogue is helpful, too. That way you’ll know what items the factory is still producing.

Because more people are collecting Frankoma, and because more dealers now have access to guide books to identify it, the prices are rising. The good news is, as the prices get higher and Frankoma becomes more widely known, it’s more profitable for dealers to sell it. For us collectors, that means a wider selection—and the guidebooks, by identifying the rare and unusual, may help draw some very interesting pieces out into the marketplace.

Collecting Tip #5

Not all Frankoma is green! Remember that Frankoma was made in many interesting colors. You can find a variety of pieces in a variety of glaze colors–if you look for them. Don’t think you’re going to find only the more common Prairie Green and Desert Gold items.

The key is to study and be familiar with Frankoma’s shapes. I cannot stress this one enough! If you know the shape of a piece, you’re far less likely to pass it by when you see it in an unexpected glaze color—like Indian Blue or Cherokee Red. You may be scanning a shelf of vases and thinking to yourself, “That pinkish-purple vase is shaped just like one in the Frankoma book.” So have that book with you and look it up. You just may be looking at a vase in Red Bud.

With the new guide books becoming more available in many more of the antique stores, you’re less likely to find unidentified and bargain-priced pieces of Frankoma. But luckily, it still happens! Frankoma is not always marked, but if you know your shapes and your colors, you’ll know when you’re holding a genuine piece of Frankoma.

Collecting Tip #6

“How do I know if it’s Ada clay?” I struggled with this one for years. There are a couple of ways I use to tell. Of course the place to check is the unglazed bottom of the piece. Ada clay, side by side with today’s clay, will look much more “golden” or tan in color. If you can find a piece you’re sure is Ada, use it to compare with the one you’re unsure of. Maybe you have a small Ada clay piece you can take shopping with you—but as you enter, always let the shop owner see that you brought it with you so there’s no question later!

My favorite test works (almost always) because Ada clay does not change color when it’s wet, and the new clay does. Get a little water (carry a small bottle of drinking water) or lightly lick your finger (if your hands are clean) and touch the unglazed clay on the bottom. If the moist clay turns a little darker and/or more pinkish, chances are it’s new. If it doesn’t look at all pink when wet, you’re holding a piece made from Ada clay. Of the five Ada clay pieces I tried this on when writing this, one became a little darker when wet, but was still very golden colored. Try this and see if it helps you.

Collecting Tip #7

“Should I worry about reproductions?” Well, folks, here’s the way I see it. I own several different sets of repro’s, and I love them. Buying reproductions was the only way I was ever going to own pairs of Rearing Clydesdales, or Leopard, or Puma on the Rocks Bookends. I’ve collected Frankoma for over 15 years, and in all that time I have come across only one pair of original Puma on the Rocks bookends, and they were priced at $900. I’ve never seen the original early Rearing Clydesdales or Leopards for sale, period. Thankfully, the reproductions available today were made by Frankoma, with (current) Frankoma clay, using (current) Frankoma glazes and Frankoma molds. In my mind, they’re no different than the Frankoma factory’s reissues. Now you know how to check for Ada clay. And, as good consumers, we all know that “if it’s too good to be true, it probably is. ”The choice is yours.

If you come across a pair of bookends with brand new felt covering the bottom of the piece, I’d be suspicious. Learn what’s been reissued, reproduced, or is still being made today. Know what you’re buying, know what you’re willing to pay, and make your own decisions. Most dealers are very honest. I’m not too worried about being taken advantage of, and I hope you aren’t either.

Collecting Tip #8

Buy it when you find it! If you really like a piece, and it’s right there in front of you, and you can afford it—buy it now! Don’t wait until next weekend, because next weekend it may be gone.

Collecting Tip #9

Always ask if the price is firm. Most dealers will discount, especially if the piece costs more than $25. A 10% discount will cover the cost of the sales tax. If you’re buying several pieces from the same dealer, ask for a discount on the total, not the individual pieces.

Collecting Tip #10

Look low, and look in the “smalls.” In my experience, Frankoma is very often found on the floor. I don’t know why, but if you’re looking for plates and serving pieces, always check the floor and under the tables. It just seems that’s where dealers put it. If you’re looking for miniatures, Christmas Cards, animals or salt and peppers, always check the displays of little items grouped together. Little items like this are called “smalls. ”Occasionally, small unmarked pieces of Frankoma will be found mixed in with all those little Japanese figurines. Once in Colorado I found a perfect little Walking Elephant on a shelf filled with all sorts of other elephants, and he was only $5. I’ve found salt and pepper sets of Pumas, Jugs and Monogrammed, as well as several unmarked miniatures, mixed in with all sorts of other little knick-knacks.

Collecting Tip #11

Be Patient! It takes time to build up a good collection. Also remember that you’re going to make some mistakes, and you mustn’t become discouraged. I’ve come home many times with what I thought was a fabulously rare and unusual piece of Frankoma, only to find out it wasn’t Frankoma at all, or it had a huge crack in it I didn’t see, or the piece was available from the factory for half the price. Oh well, I either keep ‘em or give ‘em away as gifts—and always I go back out and search for more Frankoma.

”Good luck, fellow collectors, and happy hunting!