Shawnee Pottery Corn King
Pitcher, tea pot, creamer, sugar, 1 cup, 4 dishes, salt and pepper, caserole dish.
In 1937, Shawnee Pottery began operations in the former American Encaustic facility in Zanesville, Ohio. Arrowheads found in the area, in conjunction with the heritage of local Shawnee Native Americans, inspired Louise Bauer, who was an in-house designer for this new company, to develop a logo with an arrowhead and profile of a Shawnee Indian Head.[2] The Shawnee Pottery Company operated from 1937 through 1961.
After the new logo was finalized, the company became known as Shawnee Pottery. Production under this new company name began in August 1937. The first products were primarily decorative items like figurines, cookie jars, and vases, which could be found in "five and dime" stores such as F.W. Woolworth Company, S.S. Kresge, and McCrory Stores. Shortly after production began in 1937, Sears Roebuck and Company asked the Shawnee Pottery Company to design a line of dinnerware known as Valencia and a line of kitchenware exclusively for their stores.
World War II had its effect on Shawnee Pottery. The Army Air Force had contracts with Shawnee Pottery Company from 1942 to 1946, which provided Shawnee with 90% of its production. During this period, ceramic designer Robert Heckman joined the company.