Frankoma Pottery acquires Paschal Studios

Frankoma Pottery, one of Oklahoma’s oldest companies, celebrates its 75th anniversary by expanding into the decorative tile business.  According to owner, Joe Ragosta, the addition of tiles builds on Frankoma’s long-term presence in Oklahoma kitchens.

Frankoma purchased the assets of Paschal Studios (Tulsa, OK) to quickly build a tile portfolio.  Initially, Frankoma will produce the products designed by Paschal, but will also add their own products in the coming months, including products designed to more closely match Frankoma dinnerware.  Frankoma tile products now appear on the Frankoma web site (http://www.frankoma.com/) and the Frankoma retail factory store.

Paschal Studios products are distributed by high end decorators and tile stores. These tiles are hand-made in Oklahoma as are other Frankoma products. As with other Frankoma products, Frankoma will offer custom tiles for corporate, non-profit, and private customers. In addition to the tile products, Frankoma has released a number of other new products in honor of its anniversary. The new products include a series of limited edition anniversary vases. The vases stand 17” tall and were designed by noted Native American Artist, Murv Jacobs. The vases are available in Sky Blue, Black Cherry, New Prairie Green, and Dark Sapphire and are available either unsigned or signed by the artist. The design includes hummingbirds and trumpet flowers on a conical background.

At the same time, Frankoma announces "Traditions" its first new product line in several years based on a return to Frankoma’s rich heritage of using colors based on local nature and variegated coloring such as the colors which made Frankoma famous – Prairie Green and Woodland Moss. The new line of dinnerware and accessories is available in Moss Green, Stormy Gray, and Black Cherry and is available immediately.

Finally, Frankoma announces a variety of Easter and Spring time products including hearts, Easter bunnies, planters, Easter eggs, Mother’s Day and Father’s Day mugs and Frankoma’s first Passover Seder plate.

Frankoma continues to offer a wide range of Made in Oklahoma products for shoppers and visitors from throughout the State.   The new owner of Frankoma Pottery, Joe Ragosta, is enthusiastic about Frankoma’s anniversary and new products. He recently remarked, “We’re very proud to be offering a range of new products that will please our loyal friends and new customers alike. After a number of years of getting away from our historical appeal, we wanted to return to where we came from”. With these new products, we’re launching Frankoma on its next 75 years.

John Frank launched Frankoma Pottery in the middle of the Great Depression in 1933 and Frankoma has been an Oklahoma institution since then. It remains one of the last remaining potteries manufacturing 100% of its products in the United States and mines its clay just a few miles from the Sapulpa factory.  Its products have been praised by celebrities like Martha Stewart and Paula Deen and are consistently rated as the top in their category on www.cooking.com.

The recently renovated show room facilities and Ray and Sherry Stoll Frankoma museum made their debut as part of Frankoma’s 75th Anniversary celebration, and along with Factory tours have already demonstrated their appeal as visitor attractions  and established the Pottery as one of the State’s most popular tourist destinations.

Frankoma’s factory store is open from 9 am to 5 pm Monday through Saturday at the Frankoma factory at 9549 Frankoma Road, Sapulpa, OK, 74066.  Frankoma products are also available from retailers across the nation.