A Brief History of Harker Pottery Company

In 1840, Benjamin Harker, Sr., founded the Harker Pottery Company in a modest log cabin in East Liverpool, Ohio. With a vision to craft durable and beautiful ceramics, he began producing yellowware and Rockingham ware, items cherished for their utility and charm. His sons, Benjamin Jr. and George, learned the trade under the guidance of English potter John Goodwin, laying the foundation for a family legacy. By 1850, the company, briefly known as Harker, Taylor and Company, earned acclaim, winning an award for Rockingham ware at a Boston exhibition.

Over the decades, Harker Pottery grew, adapting to changing tastes. By the 1870s, it crafted white ironstone and tea sets, and by 1890, it embraced semi-porcelain. Incorporated in 1898, the company faced challenges like Ohio River floods, prompting a 1931 move to Chester, West Virginia. There, it thrived, introducing iconic lines like Cameoware (1940s), Royal Gadroon, and White Clover, designed by Russel Wright. Known for innovation, Harker produced everything from dinnerware to ceramic rolling pins, earning the title "Oldest Pottery in America."

After its 1969 sale to Jeannette Glass Company, Harker Pottery’s trajectory changed. The new owners briefly continued producing reproductions, such as Rebekah-at-the-Well teapots, but the company shut down in 1972, concluding 132 years of operation. The Chester, West Virginia, plant, repurposed by Ohio Valley Stoneware, was destroyed by fire in 1975, leaving Harker’s cherished legacy in the hands of collectors.

In 2025, Cameron B. Harker a descendant of the Harker family, reestablished Harker Pottery Company in Michigan, driven by a passion to revive the family’s legacy. Inspired by our heritage, we focus on sourcing and reselling authentic Harker Pottery, offering collectors the opportunity to purchase directly from the Harker family. The relaunched company specializes in curating handcrafted ceramics from the original Harker era, aiming to preserve the durability and artistry of its past while connecting future generations to our storied tradition.