About a week ago, LA Times posted a very sad article about the third-generation, family-owned company, Gainey Ceramics. The company announced that they will suspend their ceramics manufacturing at the end of this month and ending one of the last operations of its kind in Southern California. Gainey Ceramics is largely known for its glazed colorful planters, urns, and mid century potteries for over 60 years. Their work has been used for Modernica’s case study planter. Some of the few remaining ceramics companies in California are Heath Ceramics, Bauer Pottery, and Vessel USA.
On my day off, I decided to take a short trip to the Gainey Ceramics Factory located in La Verne, California. The factory is not open to public but they have outlet items and a small retail store next door that opens from Monday to Friday at 10am to 4pm. The outlet items are mostly seconds and discontinued designs at 50% to 60% off retail. Their smallest pots are only $5 with the original label of $29 while the larger ones run to only $30 or more.
There wasn’t much left when I got there. I didn’t see huge collections like these where they were probably swiped away from local dealers hearing the news of the sudden announcement of discontinuation.
I got 17 pots in total for about $200. Some of them have a tiny chip but with the prices they were at, it was easily forgiven. The sales person told me that though they stop manufacturing the ceramics ones, the company will still continue to produce lightweight containers made of fiberglass. If you are truly in love with those simple and modern pots, I highly recommend to go there before their stocks run for these items will be vintage, so hurry!
Gainey Ceramics Inc.
1200 Arrow Highway
La Verne, CA 91750
Outlet Store: M-F 10:00 – 4:00
Closed Saturday – Sunday
909.593.8943
Via: edwinhimself
That’s a great bargain on so many pots. I’d love to have several of the large white ones…but I guess a road trip from Texas to pick them up would offset any savings, huh?
@Dane: That’s a bummer. If only they’re willing to ship:(
That is a real shame. I hate to see this sort of thing happen. I have been lucky to find a few of the large white ones in my thrifting escapades here in Illinois and Indiana.
reading this literally makes me sick to my stomach…so glad you grabbed some slightly imperfect beauties so they have gone on to be someplace that will love and appreciate them! i’m in colorado or i’d be there – but just pinned this to a friend who lives in venice – a landscape designer and “appreciater” of good design in general-maybe he’ll go save one, too (: