In the opening years of the 19th century high quality alluvial stoneware clays were discovered in southwestern Pennsylvania near the towns of New Geneva (founded by the financier and statesman Albert Gallatin) and Greensboro. Beginning as early as 1811 this stoneware began to replace traditional Redware pottery products in the area and it grew increasingly popular through the 1840′s until the Pittsburgh glass industry began to suplanted it. In spite of this competition, New Geneva and Greensboro stoneware continued to be made as late as 1917.

New Geneva stoneware was made in both larger single purpose enterprises and by numerous part-time potters. It used both white and red clays, the former usually producing salt-glazed wares, the latter a product known as tanware. The salt glazed wares were typically decorated in blue, either underglaze or enamel overglaze, in both free-hand and/or cut stencil motifs. Designs included animals, birds, foliage, flowers and fruit as well as straight and curving line motifs. Black or dark brown was the favored decorative color for tanware. Many pieces were neither decorated or signed. Most common forms were produced by the New Geneva potteries, including crocks up to twenty gallons in size, jugs ranging to fifty gallons, canning jars, pitchers, flowerpots and novelties such as vases, doorstops and banks.

After disappearing from the region in the early 20th century this tradition of hand thrown pottery was re-established in 1978 by the New Geneva Pottery which continues the craft today with its decorated white stoneware.