The Gates Teco Pottery Co.

The Terra Cotta Tile Works was founded in Terra Cotta Illinois by William D. Gates in 1881 for production of drain tile, brick and Architectual items. Gates used company facilities to experiment with clays and glazes in an effort to design a line of Art Pottery. Early attempts were limited to the popular reds, buffs and browns of the period but eventually Gates came to the conclusion that color and texture was more important than the clay bodies. This led him to discover the soft waxy matte green which was to become the hallmark of a line of Art Pottery which he called Teco after TErra COtta. Teco Art Pottery was introduced to the public in 1902. This matte green glaze which often resembled tha patina of acient bronze artifacts was developed independently and was NOT an attempt to copy the famous Grueby green glazes. During this time there were some accidents such as a high glaze crystalline ware which was produced in limited quantaties and highly valued by todays collectors.

Teco pottery can rightfully be called functional art. which would serve some usefull purpose. This fit well with the principals of the Arts and Crafts Movement which was begun by the English philosopher William Morris. Many of the Teco designs were the work of a group of young Chicago architects that were involved in the Prairie School style. They had rejected the revival styles of American architecture of the 19th century in favor on the use of wood, stone and clay in simple uncluttered forms. Any ornamentation consisted of geomentrical or natural objects which merged gracefully with the form.