Learning Ceramic Arts at Oklahoma University, 1928:
A Glimpse.
Imagine, if you can, being a student in John Frank’s ceramics class at OU in 1928. You might have molded or been given a blank greenware sugar bowl like this one.
The image above was blown up from a much larger, historical picture, taken of an inside room in Joe Taylor’s Norman home, circa. 1930’s.
Having etched an image into the greenware and carefully chosen glaze colors, your sugar bowl might look like these pictures after firing.
You would have been careful to stamp the OU Teepee mark and etch your name and the date into the bottom before firing, as shown in these pictures.
You might have chosen to create a vase in the same style, as shown below.
Learning ceramic arts at Oklahoma University, 1928: Just a glimpse.
Nov 28, 2025. From Darcy Sabin Frost, niece of Joseph Richard Taylor. Please check and correct your article above. In 1928 Joe Taylor was a student at the University of Washington School of Art in Seattle, Washington. He did not begin his career at the University of Oklahoma in Norman as Art Professor and Sculptor until 1932. At that time he did meet and collaborate with John Frank designing small sculptures (mostly animals and some life) from which Frank produced molds and reproduced, marketing with his dinnerware, vases, and other objects. I assure you that Joe Taylor did not create or teach anything like the ceramic pieces you show above. Your first paragraph says…”in John Frank or Joe Taylor’s ceramics class at OU in 1928…” The second paragraph… “Joe Taylor’s Norman home, circa. 1928.” The Taylors owned many of John Frank’s pieces, but Joseph Taylor was a Professor of Sculpture, not ceramics. As you do know, John Frank left the university in the early 30’s to focus on his company which became Frankoma. Joe retired Professor Emeritus in 1965 and continued to work as an active sculptor until he retired to his cattle ranch in Grady County, OK. Unfortunately after two fires that destroyed many molds at the Frankoma factories, the horses and other pieces resembled Joe’s original designs but the molds had been created from existing pieces; therefore, much of the detail and proportions were lost. I grew up with Frankoma dinnerware and our family has many pieces taken from Joe Taylor sculptures. Touching them brings me wonderful personal memories of a distinguished sculptor, talented teacher, story teller, and cattle rancher, my Uncle Joe. DF
Thanks for your great comment and information. We’ve made the corrections. Ken