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A Brief Her-story :)
For many years, the company had all 5 Family members working in it, some full time, some part time. All the work was done just by them, and one employee at a time, occasionally, when it got busy.
The family of artists at Schulz created each original, and slip-cast using molds to show the fine detail by pouring liquid porcelain clay in and back out, leaving a thin shell. Fired to cone 6 now, the clay is fully Vitrified, or 'cooked', so it holds water even if not glazed. Glaze strengthens and helps to keep it clean. The piece is strong enough to last for many generations, will never fade or crumble. Slip-casting porcelain in fresh plaster molds ensures clear design with better detail than any blown cast glass.
Schulz ware originally was made of Bills own porcelain formula, fired to cone 10. The first works were airbrushed using their own hand cut stencil templates, and assorted color glazes, Northwest Scenics and Naturals, like Douglas's Fern Series. Also, Alaskan and New Mexico designs. That process produced too many imperfections, mainly warped ware, and scratches in the glaze before firing. There are still boxes of those old gold label works in storage, good stuff.
The Schulz's started making cone 6 porcelain for less warping, and stopped making the cone10 stencil ware. They started the sculptured line by carving scenics inside the molds. Blue was the best color to stay with, adding Mt St Helens Ash in 1980 when the mountain erupted. For a while there was either blue or ash. Then the two together. Then the 3-toned with white design, where the top powdery glaze was wiped off the textural design to reveal the white of the clay, then a nice finish of clear was glazed on top of that. That became the most popular. The blue is a nice blue-jean blue, not harsh bright cobalt.
Ash is still used in the glaze to this day. The iron in it provides brownish tones, interacting with the Cobalt in interesting ways. The insides of mugs etc. always have been glazed, and white.
Now the business is down to just one, me, Stephanie. I am carrying on as solo producer for 16 years now. I have struck a good work/life balance, but now just recently, my orders from the previous Made In Oregon system, which have been consistently about a third of my income, have been drastically cut back, due to ‘store restructuring’ and general economic downturn that Covid has placed on all.
Apparently, with increased buying done online, all such 'brick and mortar' shops are struggle with business now, loosing sales to online, forcing small manufacturers like me to turn to online marketing too. Schulz through Made In Oregon in now only through the Airport store and kiosk. They had been ordering mugs from time to time for their gift basket sales, but it was sporadic, and I needed to get more money for my mugs which they didnt want to pay so I stopped making them.
Now I will be making them again, and they are offered in this Shop, but most are on back-order. However if youre not too picky, there are some really nice 2nds,,not 'gold-lable' but fully functional.
I haven’t raised my prices for 6 years. Costs for everyone go up. Now, my website here reflects what I feel are the updated, current and fair prices that I need to ask.
I think you will agree, while admittedly more costly, the product is very different from anyone else’s, and are bargain priced compared to the more famous large ‘house of porcelain’ works, which go for many times more than what I charge. Schulz Porcelain fits nicely somewhere in the middle, not super-cheap, not super expensive- at least not to younger people; I remember Dad yelling at the price of bread, "it used to cost a nickel!" and, of course we'd laugh (now, my bread costs $8 a loaf! It's not my Dad's brand of white bread, it's Organic Sprouted Grain!)
Speaking of Organic, all pottery is Organic, compared to plastic, so, buy it to save Our Planet and Our oceans. It’s made of natural clay and other natural minerals, which yes are mined, and shipped-there is that, and energy is needed to ‘fire’ it- I use electric and pay extra to support Wind and Solar Power. When pottery breaks down it’s back to being just sand, basically, and since I don’t use lead, its perfectly safe, though a little bulky in a landfill for a while. No toxins are going to off gas from it, or leach into the water, or be taken up by plants then us eventually, like plastic. There are no microbeads, no nasty tiny nano-particles left over to clog up sea creatures and birds.
More FAQs: Q: “Why do some of the pictures look like different glazes, and what will I get when I order from you?” you ask.
The current way of glazing the outsides provides greater variety of color and texture, compared to the older all-glossy look. Now, sometimes a small areas on the outside parts are deliberately left without super glossy glaze, so pieces retain a more handcrafted look: is anywhere from traditional glossy Celadon Blue to rustic blue, turquoise, green, and even sometimes a tiny bit of brownish black shade, a few may have a little semi-matt & matt surface on the outside, sanded for smooth hand feel. It's my new Signature Glaze that compliments Schulz Northwest Scenic Designs and adds interest to the Christmas Ornaments. If you want, I can text you a photo of the piece(s) I will be sending you before I ship. All functional ware is gloss glazed inside for easy of washing.
What is Porcelain? You will find a variety of answers on the ‘net, basically:
Porcelain dates from 960 A.D. to 1280 A.D. in China. It was not until 1581 that the Europeans discovered the secret ingredient was Kaolin clay. In use, porcelain is so fine it is difficult to throw on a wheel. It has been a most prestigious hard to gather mixture of materials, mixed in special recipes, molded, using the clay as a liquid 'Slip' by such masters as Wedgewood, Royal Copenhagen, Spode, Dresdin, Miltons, Royal Doulton, Crown Derby, Worcester.
This is High End Heirloom Quality work at an affordable price intended to be used, enjoyed, given with pride, and prized. Schulz's functional pieces are fully glazed and food safe all over, on the food & drink surfaces inside and on plates outside.
Microwave dishwasher and oven safe, all non-toxic.
Our ware may even be used to bake in, the Demi Glasses are great to bake individual custards in like 'ramekins' they hold about 4-5 oz.
An added benefit of the sculptured textural designs on the surface provide a better non-slip grasp than other products on the market. This way of adding design is called Sculptured, or Bas-Relief, and is longer lasting and of superior to easily damaged decals, and with better artistry than most stamped, paint brushed or dipped glaze effects. Over 160 items have been created and most have permanent rubber master molds so the Schulz tradition can be carried on Forever! The Christmas Ornaments are poured light weight so they don't weigh down your Christmas tree's branches and can be put over small tree lights, so they glow. Reminiscent of The Olde World, Schulz Porcelain art is careful, thoughtful, serious, yet some have a light fun humor about them, too, without being ‘kitsch’.
All ages will enjoy seeing and using Schulz Porcelain year after year as precious keepsakes of the loved ones who gave them, memories of times spent together.
Enjoy!
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