Girl With Flowers Figurine – Photo by Lem’s Lark Basement
A couple of weeks ago I picked up this lovely 6″ Mary & Baby Jesus figurine at a church sale – it was stamped on the bottom with just a name: Howard Pierce.
When I started researching it, I immediately fell in love – there are SO many amazing Howard Pierce pieces out there! I swear, no matter how long you buy and sell vintage items, there is always something that you have never seen before… That’s part of the fun, right? :)
A Bit Of History
Howard Pierce Ceramics or Howard Pierce Porcelain operated out of California from the 1940’s until the early 1990’s. According to a brochure he used to give to visitors at his studio:
“Howard personally handles all aspects of the ceramics — from original sculpture modeling, making of the molds, formulating the clay body and glazes, to the production and firing of the pieces. Each piece an original, hand-crafted American product. Howard continues to focus on porcelain, a high quality ceramic process which includes a single firing at 2150°F.”
He seems to have specialized in animal and people figurines, but there are some really cool vases floating around out there as well. Howard Pierce pieces are popular with collectors – and rightly so! Luckily, while some pieces are rather expensive (as in several hundred dollars expensive!), there are also pieces that go for very reasonable prices, many in the $12 to $15 range. My Mary and Jesus sold for $31 at auction on eBay.
Howard Pierce Goodness
California Pottery Artist Howard Pierce Vase w/ Modernist Owls
Pair Of Howard Pierce Art Pottery Siamese Cat Figurines
Vintage Howard Pierce St. Francis Of Assisi Figurine
Vintage Howard Pierce California Pottery Bud Vases Set
Vintage Howard Pierce Medium Bunny Rabbit Figurine
Vintage Howard Pierce Angel With Harp Figurine
Vintage Howard Pierce Ceramic Geese Figurines
Vintage Howard Pierce Girl With Basket Figurine
These are just some of my favorites that I wanted to share – there is LOTS more where this came from – just head on over to Etsy or eBay to see everything that is currently available for sale!
Love Howard Pierce! I’ve found and sold his quail pieces a few times…probably one of the easier items to find so a bit harder to sell than it used to be.
But one time I found a “Modern Jackrabbit” and it sold for $81 or so. It was a fairly rare piece. Fun!!
I think I saw the Jackrabbit when I was poking around… But I decided to show the little bunny instead because it is SO cute… The ring around its eye got me, I think. ;) I can’t believe I haven’t ever found any HP before – I guess maybe it’s not so common to find here in Ohio? Being from CA and all? I don’t know… Hope I do find more eventually though!
Very informative – I found a Siamese Cat back in 2014 – it sold for $25 on eBay. I love the Owl planter vase.
Thanks for blogging.
Thanks Candace! If I had found a cat I might have had to keep it… lol
I’ve a group of 3 ceramic birds. Blue in color, stamped Howard Pierce. I wonder if they are valuable?
Hi Ramona! I took a quick look on eBay, I saw a few blue birds that sold in the $10 to $12 each range. Hope that helps! :)
I have a pair of black cats signed Howard Pierce and have
not seen any just like them. Any ideas where to look?
I am searching for Howard Pierce’s s,all tumblers with the drip glaze.
we just had 2 of them broken and are heart broken. Are there any out there?
I have this nice piece. I don’t know what it’s called or worth. It’s about 7″, pale blue and Grey, winged Saint of sorts, with candle holder in front at base. Ink stamp Howard Pierce.