Teco Art Pottery
The American Terra Cotta Tile and Ceramic Company was founded in 1881 in Terra Cotta Illinois, near Chicago. The production consisted of drain tile, brick and architectural items. In 1886 the Gates Pottery was established as a subsidiary with William D. Gates as its president. Gates used the facilities to experiment with clays and glazes in an effort to design a line of Art Pottery which led to the introduction of Teco Pottery in 1902. The hallmark matte green glaze of Teco Art Pottery was developed independently and wasn't an attempt to copy the famous Grueby green. Many Teco shapes can also be found in brown, yellow, blue, pink and maroon, but Teco Green is most valued by today's collectors. (Story continues below products)
 Teco Pottery Matte Green Vase 87 $3,600.00 |
 Teco Pottery Prairie Arts Prairie Yellow 75 Vase 2008 NEW Extremely Rare $159.99 |
 Rare Teco Pottery Four Inch Ringed Cylinder Vase $415.00 |
 Teco Pottery Egyptian Matte Blue Vase Shape 285 $895.00 |
 A 1906 TECO POTTERY VASE PUNCH BOWL CHRISTMAS HOLIDAY AD $24.95 |
 Teco Vintage Green Vase 223 MINT RARE $650.00 |
 TREADWAY art pottery craft Italian glass murano Weller $11.95 |
 Vintage Teco Potteries advertisement Arts and Crafts $109.13 |
 Tepco PALM BANANA LEAF GREEN Jam Jelly Jar 2245591 $42.99 |
While most of the 500 shapes created by 1911 were the product of Gates' efforts, many of the remaining Teco designs were the work of a group of young Chicago architects that were involved in the Prairie School style as defined by Frank Lloyd Wright. They had rejected the revival styles of American architecture of the 19th century in favor of using wood, stone and clay in simple uncluttered forms. Any ornamentation consisted of geometrical or natural objects which merged gracefully with the form. Teco Pottery became closely linked with this style and the pottery was often an integral part of Prairie School homes much as Grueby has been closely linked to the Arts and Crafts era Craftsman style Bungalow. While it is not known how long Teco Art Pottery was made, ads and articles have been found dating up to about 1923.
