The Blue Mountain Pottery Story
When Blue Mountain Pottery went out of business, every piece became a collector's item. Blue Mountain aficionado Mary Dunk shares her passion for this distinctive Canadian collectible.
My Blue Mountain Pottery Collection
Since the early 1990s, I’ve enjoyed collecting pieces from the Blue Mountain Pottery company. Named after a popular ski hill in the area, Blue Mountain first opened for business in 1947 in Collingwood, Ontario, near Georgian Bay. Unfortunately, in 2004, the company ceased all operations. They made a unique variety of pottery, including bowls, jugs, vases, tea sets, animals, birds and even sea creatures. My 75-piece collection is mostly in green-streaked hues, but the company also made items in blue, black, gold, brown or red. Each piece is one-of-a-kind!
Many a bride and groom in the 1960s and ’70s would receive Blue Mountain pottery as a wedding present. Two of my older sisters, Jeanette and Lilian, were the recipients of such gifts. Possibly, this was what spurred my interest in collecting it, along with the fact that our family had toured the fascinating Collingwood factory many years ago.
How to Spot Genuine Blue Mountain Pottery
As a collector, you need to be very conscious of some replica Blue Mountain Pottery items. It’s authentic if it has their initials “BMP Canada” and three triangle trees embossed on the bottom. It could also have a blue-and-white tag affixed by string or a rounded sticker, which is also blue-and-white. It’s best to leave these decals on for authenticity.
My entire collection has come from visiting local antique markets and thrift stores. The items I cherish most are a spirited horse, a soaring eagle, fierce lions (above) and a full tea set.
My Blue Mountain Pottery collection is stored in five transparent containers. Each lid has a sheet attached on top listing all the items inside. I also like to display items of my collection in our home, so I will often unwrap some and put others away.
Blue Mountain pieces can range from $10 for a small one to $40 and up for a large piece. If you happen to own some Blue Mountain pottery, hold onto it—its beauty alone is worth treasuring.
Now that you know the Blue Mountain Pottery story, check out this charming collection of vintage teacups.
