Why Florence???

Florence Ceramics, a porcelain manufacturing firm of Pasedena, California, made a huge impact on the global porcelain industry.  Florence Ward pioneered porcelain processes that changed ceramic manufacturing, turning it into an art form.  Although her ceramics plant operated for only 22 years from 1942 until 1964, her line of fine porcelain figurines, serving pieces and statues, continue to be measured by many as the finest art porcelain ever made in America or perhaps the world. 
     Her pieces were carefully manufactured to be as near to perfect as could be.  Each piece was hand crafted with layers of lace covered with porcelain which was baked until only the porcelain skeleton of the lace remained.  Florence believed in high maintenance techniques such as hand painting and multiple firings.  Her work comes alive.   Her earthen materials have expressions of innocence, dignity and charm. 
     Florence expected perfection from her employees.  She supervised the processes she didn’t control herself.  Florence inspected each step of the manufacturing process.  She was not one to let a “very good” product leave her factory; only perfect pieces were sold to fine department stores and gift shops. 
While she had high expectations from her employees, she was a stellar employer to work for.  Being an excellent employer was as important to her as creating an excellent product.  
    While Florence Ward’s ceramics will never be created again (her molds were destroyed when her firm was sold in the 1960’s) her legacy as an American art porcelain leader remains in these wonderful pieces.