If you’ve ever picked up a glossy green or blue animal figure with a rich, flowing glaze and BMP CANADA on the base, you’ve met Blue Mountain Pottery. Born in Collingwood, Ontario, this Canadian pottery became a mid‑century icon and is now a firm favourite with collectors across the UK, Canada and beyond.
From ski resort clay to a global brand
Blue Mountain Pottery began in the early 1950s as a way to keep staff employed at the Blue Mountain ski resort outside the winter season. Founder Jozo (Joseph) Weider, a Czech immigrant, teamed up with fellow Czechs Dennis Tupy and Mirek Hambalek to turn the local red clay into vases, bowls and animal figures that could be sold to visitors as souvenirs.
What started as a small offshoot in a ski barn grew into a dedicated pottery business. Over the following decades, Blue Mountain Pottery expanded from the hill to a factory in Collingwood and exported its wares across Canada, the United States, the UK, Australia and New Zealand. By the time production ended in 2004, BMP pieces had found their way into homes, museums and serious collections worldwide.
The magic of the Blue Mountain Pottery drip‑glaze
The first thing people notice about Blue Mountain Pottery is the glaze. Those deep green and blue tones that seem to melt and flow into darker browns and blacks are not accidental – they’re the result of a carefully developed “reflowing” or drip‑glaze technique.
BMP typically used a local red clay body and applied two different glazes. During high firing, the lighter glaze would run through the darker base, creating organic streaks and pools of colour. Because the glaze moved differently every time, no two pieces are exactly alike. That individuality is a big part of the charm – you’re not just buying a shape, you’re buying a unique surface that never repeats.
The classic palette is a blue‑green over dark brown or black, often said to be inspired by the spruce and pine trees of the surrounding mountains. Later ranges explored other colour combinations, but it’s that rich, forest‑toned drip‑glaze that most collectors instantly recognise.
Blue Mountain Pottery Large Bear
Animals, vases and everyday forms
Blue Mountain Pottery produced a wide variety of shapes: vases, bowls, ashtrays, jugs and decorative pieces designed for everyday use. But for many collectors, it’s the animal figures that steal the show – owls, bears, fish, swans, cats, dogs and more, all rendered in smooth, stylised forms that show off the glaze to full effect.
Most pieces were made using slip‑moulding, where liquid clay is poured into moulds. This allowed the pottery to produce consistent forms efficiently, while still giving each item a unique finish through the glaze. The result is a range that feels both accessible and artistic: simple shapes, elevated by complex colour and shine.
Why collectors love Blue Mountain Pottery
Today, Blue Mountain Pottery sits in an interesting place: it’s nostalgic, affordable compared with some studio pottery, yet increasingly sought‑after as people rediscover mid‑century ceramics. Pieces appear in antique centres, charity shops, online marketplaces and specialist auctions, often snapped up by collectors who grew up with BMP in the family home or simply love the look.
Collectors are drawn to:
- Unique glaze patterns: every item has its own flow and streaking.
- Strong, sculptural forms: animals and vases that feel solid and tactile.
- Canadian heritage: a story rooted in local clay, immigrant craft and a ski hill’s survival.
- Range of sizes: from small ornaments to statement pieces for shelves and sideboards.
Museums such as the Royal Ontario Museum hold examples in their collections, recognising BMP as part of Canada’s design and craft history. That museum presence, combined with strong nostalgia, has helped cement Blue Mountain Pottery as more than just “souvenir ware” – it’s now a recognised collecting field in its own right.
Spotting genuine Blue Mountain Pottery
Most genuine pieces carry moulded marks such as BMP, BMP CANADA or similar wording on the base. The clay body is typically red beneath the glaze, and the finish has a distinctive depth and movement that copies rarely match. Some ex‑employees went on to start their own potteries using similar techniques, but the original Blue Mountain Pottery glazes were closely guarded formulas, giving BMP its particular look and feel.
When you handle a piece, look for:
- Weight and feel: solid, well‑made forms with a smooth, glossy surface.
- Colour transitions: natural, flowing shifts between light and dark tones.
- Base marks: clear BMP or BMP CANADA moulded or impressed into the clay.
Blue Mountain Pottery in a curated vintage collection
For anyone curating a vintage and nostalgic shop, Blue Mountain Pottery sits beautifully alongside British studio pottery, mid‑century glass and classic advertising pieces. The animals add character and colour; the vases and bowls bring sculptural form and a touch of Canadian modernism. Because each glaze is unique, you can build a collection that feels coherent yet never repetitive.
Whether you’re just starting with a single owl or bear, or building a full shelf of BMP animals, Blue Mountain Pottery offers that satisfying mix of story, craft and visual impact – the kind of pottery that invites people to stop, look twice and ask about the maker behind the glaze.
Blue Mountain Pottery Owl
