Desert Sands Evans Pottery

In 1936, during the Depression of the 30s, potter Terrel Evans found work as a surveyor in Nevada. Evans worked for the U.S. Bureau of Mines for 10 years, brought his family out, and started a life in Boulder City. Three important family members to note are his Uncle Arthur and his two children - Dorothy and Ferrell.

After working in a role that was not his passion for a decade, Evans convinced businessman Jack Petrie to back him, and together they formed the Pinto Pottery Company. Though successful, the business was later rebranded as “Desert Sands Pottery” in 1950 to pair with the newly formed ”Desert Sands Gift Shop” on the Nevada highway.

Evans, Arthur, Dorothy, and Ferrell started as the four principal potters and remained as such until the end of the company. For 12 years, this small pottery/tourist shop hand-threw thousands of stunning art pottery pieces. They were renowned for their unique take on the “mission swirl”, a technique in art pottery where colorful bands “swirl” around the pieces. Many call their work derivative of Niloak Pottery, which is also famous for its mission swirl lines. However, Evans refused this comparison and called his style “Mineral and Sand pottery”. Desert Sands pottery has colors and layers that reflect the vivid mineral-clay formations the Terrel used to encounter in his surveyal work. This makes the pieces strikingly different from Niloak, with brilliant greens, yellows, reds, and oranges finished with a glossy glaze.

Unfortunately, the work was not appreciated at the time - both due to the Niloak controversy and the “kitsch” nature of their shop. Today, however, this unique pottery is finally gaining the appreciation it deserves. The mission swirl is an opulent design after all, and the mass-produced, duller Niloak works (while captivating in their own right) do not have the same hand-crafted, illuminative touch as the Desert Sand pieces.

Frequently Asked Questions

The authenticity of Desert Sands Pottery is best determined by its distinctive multicolored swirl glaze, high-gloss finish, and known production origin in Barstow, under the Evans Pottery brand. While some pieces may bear a logo, most are identified by form, glaze technique, and clay consistency.

Desert Sands glazes are defined by fluid, multicolored swirls that blend earth tones with vivid hues like blue and green. The glaze is fully applied inside and out, with a high-gloss finish that distinguishes it from matte desert pottery styles.

Collectors value unique or rare forms, such as tall vases, covered bowls, or non-standard silhouettes, more highly. Forms that exhibit precise craftsmanship and fluid swirl integration enhance desirability and investment potential in the Desert Sands Pottery market. If you're exploring form-driven collecting, browse our curated selection of pottery vases from Desert Sands and other historic art pottery makers.

While early Evans swirl ware was created in Nevada (Boulder City), the hallmark Desert Sands Pottery line was primarily produced in Barstow, California, after the mid-20th-century shift in operations.

Yes. Unique or especially vivid swirl arrangements can increase value. Pieces with symmetrical, vibrant, and well-executed swirl designs are most desirable among Desert Pottery collectors.

Most Desert Sands Pottery pieces are handmade, although some forms were slip-cast or wheel-thrown using molds. However, even molded pieces were often hand-finished, and the swirl application process itself was distinctly artisanal, making every piece one-of-a-kind in the tradition of Desert Pottery.