Theaster Gates buys Pickard China, the last US fine china maker
What's the deal? Artist Theaster Gates has acquired Pickard China, the sole remaining fine china manufacturer in the United States, for an undisclosed sum. The Antioch, Illinois, company has supplied the White House, US embassies, fancy hotels, private jets, golf clubs, and retailers like Williams-SonomaDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom →.
Who's who? Gates is a Chicago-based artist known for work spanning sculpture, ceramics, and urban renewal. Pickard was founded in 1893 by pottery salesman Wilder Pickard and run by his family ever since; Andy Pickard Morgan, a fourth-generation family member, has led it since 2006.
Why now? Pickard and the fine china industry have faced a long decline. The factory needs urgent repairs, and current output is roughly a quarter of its 1970s peak.
What's the endgame? Gates wants to make Pickard a hub for artisanal manufacturing. "The idea that Pickard could be a place bringing artisanal manufacturing back to the fore — that's very exciting," he said.
What could go wrong? Rising manufacturing costs and more casual lifestyles since the 1970s pushed nearly every American china maker to close or move overseas. Rutgers emeritus historian Philip Scranton credits Pickard's survival to "stubbornness and legacy" and is unsure the market can recover.
The signal: The deal pairs an art-world figure with a struggling heritage manufacturer, testing whether prestige craft can sustain US production that automation and offshoring nearly wiped out.
Read more: NPR
Image credit: COD Newsroom
