McAfee Pottery   1940-1950's Sisters Ruth and Grace McAfee began a small pottery in San Gabriel, California as an adjunct to their cactus and succulent nursery. The nursery specialized in miniatures (Haworthias, Echeverias, Lobivias, etc.) and, at least in the beginning, most of the pottery was equally small-scaled. Even when the production got larger, the ware stayed small. It is rare to find a piece larger than eight inches. The pottery was made from late in the 1940s until the late 1950s. The pottery has a reddish terra cotta clay body and is usually found with solid-color pastel glazes (dark green is also common) but other colors and combinations exist. Most pieces are cast but an occasional hand-thrown piece can be found.

Light mustard glaze covers this vintage miniature McAfee vase.   Measures 3" tall x 2 1/2" wide x 2" deep.   Great condition; signed.

This company reminds me of Glen Lukens pottery also very much like Barbara Willis. I purchased this pottery from Bill Sterns estate, I was much taken by these pieces and didn't know what they were. In my thirty years of buying and selling California Pottery I'd never seen them. When I remarked on this I was told it's because Bill had bought them all. These are all rare gems.