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The Web Master
James Elliot-Bishop

Born in 1954, James began collecting Franciscan in 1982 when his mother gave him the family dishes purchased in the 1950's. The set was Franciscan Ivy. Many pieces in the set were chipped or broken and had to be replaced. Being right out of college, money was tight. However, he did purchase quite a few pieces including the rare and elusive tureen ladle from the Bon Marche, a local department store. When the plant closed in 1984, in a mad rush to complete the set, he ordered from the Bon Marche, only to receive factory seconds and not the complete order. After discovering pieces in local antique stores - this was before antique malls - the collecting madness began. From Ivy, he collected all of the other hand-painted embossed patterns and El Patio.

Part of James' Collection in 1990

In 1979, James "retired" from corporate life as a legal assistant for a major Northwest Law Firm and began working for Reba Schneider in her and her mother's shop Bibelots and Books. In 1992, Reba and James opened Reba's Classic Ceramics at 8412 - 5th Avenue NE in Seattle, Washington.

In 1994, Reba moved to 222 Westlake Antique Mall. Currently she is still known and operates as Reba's Classic Ceramics.

In 1994, James began Elliot's 20th Century California Pottery at the same location of 8412 - 5th Avenue NE. In 1996, the shop was renamed to The Pottery Shop to reflect the partnership of James and Patrick Barry.  The Pottery Shop closed in Seattle in 2000.  In 2003, Patrick and James started a new venture and shop named Bon Vivant in Palm Springs.

James began the Franciscan Collectors Club and the Franciscan Newsletter in 1994 and became the Web Master of this site in 1994. With over ten years of research in the history of Gladding McBean and Franciscan, a library that includes a wealth of knowledge now exists.

This all could not be done without the support of Steve Kormanyos, Robin Heath, Patrick Barry, Reba Schneider and Sheldon Izen. It is with my sincerest thanks to all who have been so supportive.

If anyone has material they wish to donate, please contact James. It is not without the support of you that this Web Site, collectors club and newsletter exists.

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