Large Vintage Stangl Pink Thistle Creamer - 24 oz Size circa 1951-1972

{HISTORY}

A delight in the kitchen and the garden, this vintage Stangl Pottery creamer features the popular Pink Thistle pattern that first debuted in 1951.

Made in Trenton, New Jersey, Stangl dinnerware was unique in that it was made with red clay, covered with white slip on the exterior, and handpainted in an array of pretty florals. The interiors were often left in their natural clay color, which, after glazing and firing, turned them into a warm terracotta shade. Each Stangl piece was hand-painted, a hallmark of the pottery's care and attention to craftsmanship and design, creating unique works of art in each and every dish.

Stangl creamers in the Pink Thistle pattern came in a variety of sizes from small to large. This one holds 24 oz (three cups), making it ideal for use as a creamer for large gatherings, as well as an ideal server for syrup, juice, or sauces.  

Great for the garden as much as the kitchen, just like the thistle flower helps feed pollinators in the wild, this creamer is a lovely size for watering house and patio plants. When space is tight, or plants are small, a traditional watering can be a clumsy affair, but a petite pitcher like this one fits the job perfectly, without damaging, overwatering, or splashing tabletops or plant stands.

Throughout its long production run, Pink Thistle was available on over 60 different pieces of dishware, yielding a collector's dream pattern that was up to just about every task in the kitchen. Manufactured from 1951 to 1967, it was available for special order from 1967 to 1972 before being discontinued. Five years later, the company closed its doors. 

Stangl Pottery was no stranger to the beautiful forms found in nature. An art pottery with roots dating back to the early 1800s, they were best known for their red clay dishware, ceramic bird figurines, and artistically designed vases. 

Named for German immigrant J. Martin Stangl, a ceramic engineer who became the pottery's president in the mid-1920s, Stangl pieces were very popular throughout the 20th century. Martin believed that was because of the pottery’s dedicated team of artisans who handmade and decorated their wares with the utmost attention to detail.

But many others, employees included, believed it was because of Martin's commitment to care, quality, and craft that saw the pottery through its most popular years. When he passed away in the early 1970s, Martin instructed in his will that the pottery either be sold or liquidated. That's when the heart went out of the business, and even though it sold to another company, it could never return to what it once was.

Without Martin at the helm, Stangl's level of artistry and craftsmanship couldn't compete financially with lesser quality, mass-produced imports.  The pottery closed permanently in 1978, at a loss to the community and to collectors. The vintage pieces that float around the collecting world today beautifully showcase the exceptional design work that Stangl was known for. All that hand-touched detailing and dynamic design, executed with such care and attention, could never be replicated in the same way by machine. 

Throughout history, thistles have symbolized resiliance, protection, and strength, a fitting tribute to not only the garden landscape but also to Stangl dishware and to the cook in the kitchen too. 

Vintage advertisement for Stangl's Pink Thistle pattern courtesy of The News, Frederick Maryland, February 16, 1960

{SPECIAL FEATURES}

• Large size
• 3 cup capacity
• Colors include pale plum, raspberry, pale pink, pine green, celadon, terracotta, and creamy white
• Stamped on bottom with maker's mark
• 
  

{CONDITION}

In beautiful vintage condition, this pitcher contains no chips, cracks, spots, or staining. Very light crazing on the exterior adds a lovely aged patina. 

{SIZE}

Measures 4.75" inches (height) x 3.25 (diameter at opening) x 6.5" inches (spout to handle) and weighs just a smidge of 1 lb.

{DONATION SUPPORTED}

This heirloom gives back! 20% of the proceeds from the sale of this heirloom will be donated to rare.org - an international non-profit committed to protecting, promoting, and preserving global foodways, communities, and the environment through self-sustainability and conservation.