Mid2Mod: Frankoma

In 1933 John Frank and his wife Grace Lee started a commercial pottery business with the goal of creating a line of fine art ware that middle class families could afford. They decided that the company name should include both their name and the last three letters of Oklahoma, where they lived, and thus Frankoma Potteries was born.

Frankoma became the pioneer in colored tableware. In 1947 the Mayan-Aztec line of dinnerware was introduced, and it was a success. Colors were introduced that reflected the essence of the Southwest, such as Prairie Green, Desert Gold, White Sand, and Onyx Black.

Other patterns were added later, such as the Oklahoma Plainsman, Lazybones and Westwind. New colors were also added, including Woodland Moss, Brown Satin, Peach Glow, Coffee, Clay Blue, Red Bud, Dusty Rose, Terracotta Rose, Turquoise, Sunflower Yellow, Robin Egg Blue and others. In addition to popular tableware, the Franks always continued to expand their lines of artistically inspired containers, sculpture and other items of ceramic art.

Although some Frankoma tended to be more traditional than much of the sleek imported mid-century pieces, the company did produce some beautifully innovative shapes and enjoyed tremendous popularity in the Forties and Fifties, especially in the Southwest. Because it was produced in such abundance, some collectors have been disdainful of the product, but its availability today simply serves to prove how much people loved it then, earning Frankoma a rightful place in MCM history.