They say California

In 1919, chewing-gum magnate William Wrigley Jr. bought Santa Catalina Island to develop as a resort, and in 1925, he established Catalina Clay Products on the island to produce the more than 100,000 roofing tiles needed for his multilevel casino.

By the late ‘20s, the company was manufacturing ornamental pottery in vibrant glazes -- decorative accessories that were sold in island gift shops.

In 1930, Catalina Clay added bright, solid-colored tableware to the line. Best known for its glazes, it also featured hand-painted scenes from nature in bold, brilliant hues on many of its pieces.

In 1937, Wrigley closed the plant and sold the molds and the Catalina trademark to Gladding McBean & Co. of Glendale, which produced the line until the 1970s.

Pottery produced from 1927 to 1937 is marked “Catalina” or “Catalina Island.” Pieces marked “Made in USA” or “Pottery” are later works -- not produced on the island -- and less valuable.

On Tuesday, 350 lots of quality estate merchandise, with no reserve, will be auctioned by John Moran Auctioneers. Among them will be 20 lots of Catalina Island pottery and 15 lots of highly desirable 1930s Monterey furniture -- as symbolic of California style as Catalina Island pottery. Jeff Moran, vice president of Moran Auctioneers, describes the sale of antiques and fine furnishings as “eclectic and slightly eccentric.”

The sale will include a pair of floor-standing Baccarat candelabra commissioned for the 2,500th anniversary of the Persian Empire, Tiffany silver, Steinway grand pianos, a Louis Vuitton steamer trunk, a copper and mica table lamp by Dirk Van Erp and pre-1930 paintings by California artists.

The estimated sale price of items ranges from $500 to $50,000.

Catalina Island Vase

Lot 1,845 Squat form, matte green-glazed production vase with wide sweeping handles. Circa 1927-32. 8 1/2 inches in diameter and 7 1/2 inches tall. Impressed “Catalina Island” on reverse in underglaze.

Estimated sale price: $400 to $600

A common but much sought-after design. Although many are available, demand exceeds supply.

John Moran

Auctioneers

Location: Pasadena Convention Center, 300 E. Green St., Pasadena

(626) 793-1833

Preview time: Tuesday, 3 p.m.

Sale time: Tuesday, 6 p.m.

Moorish Catalina Island

Wall Plate

Lot 1,828: Hand-painted, inspired by an Alhambra design. Multi-tone matte glazes in blue, green and brown reveal the red clay body underneath. Circa 1927-32. 11 inches in diameter. Impressed “Catalina Island.”

Estimated sale price: $900 to $1,200

“It’s exceedingly unusual to find a piece with this Moorish-design influence in such pristine condition,” says Jeff Moran of the studio plate.

Submarine Garden

Catalina Island Wall Plate

Lot 1,827: Featuring an undersea garden image set within a wide red high glaze border. Circa 1927-32. 14 inches in diameter. Impressed “Catalina Island” on reverse.

Estimated sale price: $1,000 to $2,000

Individual studio pieces are rare, as most Catalina pottery was factory-produced. This undersea image is highly sought after and extremely difficult to find.

-- Leslie Trilling