How to Identify Pottery Marked USA

If you’ve turned over a green planter hoping to find a name and found only USA, you’ve got a starting clue. Several potteries used those letters. To narrow down the maker, collect details about the shape, base, and glaze.

Four Things to Check

Photograph the base and the whole piece. Use light from the side to make faint marks easier to read. Include the rim, handles, and a close-up of the unglazed foot.
Copy the mark exactly. Write down letters, punctuation, mold numbers, and anything faint above or below USA. Note whether the lettering is raised, recessed, or stamped in ink.
Measure and describe it. Record the height and widest point. Look at the foot shape, the clay color where it’s exposed, and whether the glaze is matte, glossy, mottled, or streaked.
Compare the form with documented examples. Search for any mold number with the object type, such as “USA 123 planter.” Look for a match across the shape, measurements, and base. Keep the maker tentative if the evidence is mixed.

Compare Marks by Maker

McCoy has examples of how USA can appear alone or alongside a maker’s name.
Hull shows a base with Hull USA and a separate number.
Roseville shows raised script, U.S.A., and a shape-and-size code on the same base.
Frankoma shows how to use the exposed clay and the lettering together.

Reference: The McCoy Pottery Collectors’ Society trademark guide documents several variations, including pieces marked only USA.

This is my take on USA pottery...

If you are familiar at all with pottery, you will notice a large number of pieces that are marked with only "USA". There is not a USA Pottery Company that produced these wares. For a sufficient explanation of why pieces are marked like this, lets start in the 1800's. Back then, most pottery was created to be used in everyday life by an individual that probably lived near you. The makers rarely marked these pieces because beyond there usefulness, the items weren't much to look at. (imagine an old, brown stoneware crock) As pottery techniques matured around the turn of the century, many larger potteries were formed. (think industrialization) Many produced artistic works that the creator would want recognition for his efforts. Anyway, every company had their own rules about marking their wares. Marks would sometimes include company name, logo / symbol, an artist signature, mold number, initials, country, state, city, what they had for lunch, etc., etc. Many companies would include no mark at all. Or, they opted for a simple paper / foil sticker instead. The stickers rarely stayed on the pieces long, and they'd wind up unmarked. Around the time of WW I, many businesses felt a patriotic need to include USA on their goods. This may have been also due to their exporting items overseas. Later on around WWII (I think?), the US government passed a law that all imported goods had to be marked with their country of origin. Some American companies saw this and decided that they no longer needed to include USA mark, because the imports would be stamped "Japan", "China", or whatever and people would know an unmarked piece was made here. Other companies continued to use the USA mark. Others continued to use it, on some types of pottery. Other businesses decided to use it sporadically. Some potteries were only going to use it on Thursdays. (you get the point! ;) Basically, if you are going to find out who made your nifty green planter, your going to have to do some research. To start off with, the most prolific of the USA markers was Shawnee & McCoy. Try reading How to Identify American Pottery. The bottom of the homepage on this very site may also be of some use if you are going to track down the origin of a piece. Also, try leaving a post on the Forum retired, someone may be able to tell you who made it. Good Luck!