Incorporated in 1809.
Fulper Pottery utilized the clay found in Hunterdon County, NJ and became known as the home of ‘Bennington’ style of art pottery. Salt glazes were often used in these early pieces.
By 1909, Fulper began using ancient Greek and Chinese ceramics with matte, crystalline and flambé glazes. Fulper Pottery is well known for its striking glazes and it is estimated that there are more than 100 different ones.
Some of the well-known Fulper Pottery artists were John Kunsman, Martin Stangl, and Professor Dr. Cullen Parmelee. These men were important in the development of the Fulper brand as were its organizers from the Fulper family. However, it was really Mr. Stangl who moved the pottery forward as he developed many glazes and art forms. This occurred in 1910. Stangl also provided leadership as Fulper became the first company to introduce a glazed and solid colored dinnerware in America. Under his leadership, porcelain dolls were produced by Fulper Pottery and Stangl received a 5% commission on all doll heads sold.
Fulper Pottery introduced the Stangl line and in 1930 Martin Stangl bought the company. It became known as Fulper-Stangl. The pottery grew and a new structure was built in Trenton, NJ by James Teague from North Carolina. He and a work crew created a building for Fulper. Soon thereafter, Mr. Teague began creating pots in the North Carolina style and taught others in the region to use his styles.
Although Martin Stangl was critical to the survival of Fulper-Stangl, he did not change the name legally until 1955. At that time, it was named Stangl and his works were recognized across the country.
Stangl Pottery is stamped on it bottom of its pieces and is well known for its gold-treated finishes and for its matte colors. It is also the home to bird figurines which were patterned after the Audubon drawings. They were so popular that they were sold in the USA and Europe during WWII.
Mr. Stangl established one of the first “factory outlets” in the United States and wanted it to be a place of education as well as a place to buy pottery.
Stangl was closed in 1978 and was purchased by Pfaltzgraff Pottery in York, PA that same year.
(Source: Just Art Pottery)
(Source: Runge, Robert C. Jr. Collectors Encyclopedia of Stangl Artware, Lamps and Birds)